If Bell South offered this building in the expectation of favorable treatment, this looks like a bribe. Last time I looked, it's illegal to bribe a public official (especially a police force). If I were the DA for New Orleans, I'd go straight ahead and prosecute.
What a dumb move by Bell South!
If a group, such as MA state, wants a certain set of features, they could always fund someone to add them to Open Office. Funding a programmer to work on this should take about $100 k for one year. This would what a set of upgrades of MS Office for 500 people would be (I think).
With MS Office you have to pay this every three years or so, in order to make sure that everybody can read the same set of documents, including those written by people with new computers.
The advantage of going with OpenOffice is that (1) you only have to pay once and (2) in this case, blind and partially sighted people everywhere benenfit. Seems like a no-brainer to me. The OpenOffice options means that the MA state adopts the most cost effective decision and also helps out blind and partially sighted people who use computers.
Software that is "free" to only a subset of organizations is not free. Such a clause would put the GPL in the same class as any other restrictive license, thereby defeating it's whole purpose.
I remember that, about 10 years ago, the FSF was unhappy at Apple and such using FSF software and tried to limit it's use at such companies. However, any wording (except maybe "software cannot be used by XYZ corporation") that attempts to restrict use to only a certain subset of orgaizations only serves to decrease its appeal to all organizations.
I think that Sun should get a pat on the back for this. OpenOffice 1.9 is really "in the zone" when it comes to a productivity application. This just makes a great product a fantastic one. In these days of tight budgets, any company, large or small, should think twice about paying $300+ for a productivity suite that you could get for free (in both senses of the word) in OpenOffice.
Part of Apple's advantage has always been that since they control the hardware and the software, that can make sure that everything works across the board. For those who value their time, this is an excellent reason to stick with Apple hardware.
Will we be able to use Java on Longhorn? I'm trying to figure out what a good platform for my project would be. I'd like a platform with longevity after being burned by using VisualBasic.
Microsoft is a marketing company and Google is an advertising company. Microsoft's job is to sell inexpensive crap for the highest price possible. Google's job is to provide the end user with information that is valuable to them at the lowest possible cost.
These represent two very different points of view and it is understandable that Microsoft has trouble understanding how you can make money Google's way.
Oh, the other thing that is very different is that Google helps other companies reach their customers, while Microsoft crushes or aquires other companies. This means that Google has a lot of things called "friends," which is possibly another new concept for Microsoft.
This whole issue seems totally unnecessary. Stallman's "Java Trap" is only relevant because FOSS implementations such as GCJ do not implement the full Java 5 standard. The solution to this would be update or make a FOSS version of Java that implements Java 5. It's not a trap if there is an obvious way out. If you don't want to go the obvious way out (because it takes too much effort), then the only thing that is trapping you is your attitude.
Also
The Harmony project (if it is successful) would seem to lay to rest any FOSS advocate's qualms about Java.
This is the reason why almost all cellphones (and Creative Lab's Zen) have a removable battery. The first thing that you do when something goes wrong is to take the back off and remove the battery. Plus, batteries have a shorter lifespan than the device itself and it cuts down on maintenance if replacing the power source can be serviceed by the end user.
This is a fantastic idea for software engineers. Employers want to know what your work is like. Usually people work proprietary code which is not available to prospective employers and they just have to take your word for it.
Working on an open source project means that your prospective employer can download the code, compile it, run it and see how you did it. They can get a 100% accurate idea of what you are capable of.
I've looked for work two times in previous years and both times I've pointed my prospective employer at open source code that I've written. Both times I have done this with clued-in employers (the ones that you would like to work for) I've had a job offer within a week.
Open Source code rocks!
From the article, it looks like they are making their network grammar version available, not their dictation grammar version. There are types of continuous speech recognition engines, the simple version that uses a hand-crafted network grammar (which seems to be the version that they are talking about), which can be used to recognize simple utterances such as dates, and one that uses a statictical language model and which can recognize an entire language.
This is not earth-shattering news, since HTK has been available for some years. HTK was owned by a company called Entropic and was released as open source when it was bought by Microsoft. HTK can be found at http://htk.eng.cam.ac.uk/.
and can handle network grammars. This lessens the impact of IBM's news.
They hope to start trials in 2004 and you can sign up at sales@cyberkineticsinc.com. Unfortunately, the software runs only on Windows, so you would run the risk of your brain getting hacked.
One of the unstated advantages of an open source project is that it can serve as an online resume. Employers can only guess at how real your resume is. You may say that you're a hot-shot programmer, but how can an employer really know? Answer, they can download, compile and run your project from SourceForge. If they cannot do this, maybe you don't want to be employed by them anyway.
If you release you code under the GPL, there is nothing to stop you (as the copyright holder) from re-releasing the code under a more commercial license if your open source project is popular or you find a market for it.
Starting your project off as open source is a great idea. Even if it does not take off, your code is out there and other people (and future employers) can see what your programming ability is like without having to take your word for it.
It certainly works for me. I have two project on SourceForge that helped me land two $100k+ jobs.
I work on a technology that will make this possible. It does include crypographic identity assurance. The technology is called Dedicated Short Range Communication and is closely related to 802.11a, but operatinging in the 5.9 GHz region (spectrum has been allocated by FCC). DSRC differs from 802.11a to handle high speed communication between radios. People are already thinking about many of the questions brought up about the technology in the article and the standard (administered by one of the engineering standards body) is in the process of being formed.
Has anybody though of mentioning the crappy game support in Linux as a selling point in the corporation? I guess Linux has Solitaire, which means that managers and secretaries will still spend their time, but engineers will not play these games.
Oh wait... this is Slashdot. First we need a browser that blocks Slashdot.
I don't know about you, but they seem to expect a low level of cognitive ability if you can be distracted by gravity. In fact, I would argue that the distraction of having to breath is greater than that of gravity. Having said that, the device might be also designed to releive you of the necessity for breating also, resulting in a very profound sense of peace.
And don't forget, with all that exciting bundled stuff comes all the bugs and security weaknesses attached to that bundled stuff.
Many of these services are active by default in Windows. You don't turn them off because you don't know what they are and how vital they are. Then along comes an exploit using software that does not belong on a server (e.g. MediaPlayer) and you are hosed.
Contrast this with Debian, where a minimal install gives you the basics (including ssh) and you can add what you need with apt. For example, I usually install the basic X apps, but do not run X on the console. I either run and X server on a non-server or fire up VNC on one of the servers and shut it down when I'm done. That way I can keep the process table pretty clean, enabling me to spot any unusual acivity.
Slashdot Mirror
If Bell South offered this building in the expectation of favorable treatment, this looks like a bribe. Last time I looked, it's illegal to bribe a public official (especially a police force). If I were the DA for New Orleans, I'd go straight ahead and prosecute.
What a dumb move by Bell South!
Although he also writes fast code, Mr. Bluescreen was criticised for the poor stability of his code.
It appears that latw.org runs IIS and has been hacked. Try purchasing the CD of the broadcast.
With MS Office you have to pay this every three years or so, in order to make sure that everybody can read the same set of documents, including those written by people with new computers.
The advantage of going with OpenOffice is that (1) you only have to pay once and (2) in this case, blind and partially sighted people everywhere benenfit. Seems like a no-brainer to me. The OpenOffice options means that the MA state adopts the most cost effective decision and also helps out blind and partially sighted people who use computers.
Software that is "free" to only a subset of organizations is not free. Such a clause would put the GPL in the same class as any other restrictive license, thereby defeating it's whole purpose.
I remember that, about 10 years ago, the FSF was unhappy at Apple and such using FSF software and tried to limit it's use at such companies. However, any wording (except maybe "software cannot be used by XYZ corporation") that attempts to restrict use to only a certain subset of orgaizations only serves to decrease its appeal to all organizations.
I think that Sun should get a pat on the back for this. OpenOffice 1.9 is really "in the zone" when it comes to a productivity application. This just makes a great product a fantastic one. In these days of tight budgets, any company, large or small, should think twice about paying $300+ for a productivity suite that you could get for free (in both senses of the word) in OpenOffice.
Part of Apple's advantage has always been that since they control the hardware and the software, that can make sure that everything works across the board. For those who value their time, this is an excellent reason to stick with Apple hardware.
Will we be able to use Java on Longhorn? I'm trying to figure out what a good platform for my project would be. I'd like a platform with longevity after being burned by using VisualBasic.
Microsoft is a marketing company and Google is an advertising company. Microsoft's job is to sell inexpensive crap for the highest price possible. Google's job is to provide the end user with information that is valuable to them at the lowest possible cost.
These represent two very different points of view and it is understandable that Microsoft has trouble understanding how you can make money Google's way.
Oh, the other thing that is very different is that Google helps other companies reach their customers, while Microsoft crushes or aquires other companies. This means that Google has a lot of things called "friends," which is possibly another new concept for Microsoft.
This whole issue seems totally unnecessary. Stallman's "Java Trap" is only relevant because FOSS implementations such as GCJ do not implement the full Java 5 standard. The solution to this would be update or make a FOSS version of Java that implements Java 5. It's not a trap if there is an obvious way out. If you don't want to go the obvious way out (because it takes too much effort), then the only thing that is trapping you is your attitude.
Also The Harmony project (if it is successful) would seem to lay to rest any FOSS advocate's qualms about Java.
I couldn't get from the article what the duration of disruption is. Anybody know?
Let's not forget
Microsoft Accelerator 2005
AKA software to remove the artificial limits that we put on so that you would buy this software.
This is the reason why almost all cellphones (and Creative Lab's Zen) have a removable battery. The first thing that you do when something goes wrong is to take the back off and remove the battery. Plus, batteries have a shorter lifespan than the device itself and it cuts down on maintenance if replacing the power source can be serviceed by the end user.
This is a fantastic idea for software engineers. Employers want to know what your work is like. Usually people work proprietary code which is not available to prospective employers and they just have to take your word for it. Working on an open source project means that your prospective employer can download the code, compile it, run it and see how you did it. They can get a 100% accurate idea of what you are capable of. I've looked for work two times in previous years and both times I've pointed my prospective employer at open source code that I've written. Both times I have done this with clued-in employers (the ones that you would like to work for) I've had a job offer within a week. Open Source code rocks!
This is not earth-shattering news, since HTK has been available for some years. HTK was owned by a company called Entropic and was released as open source when it was bought by Microsoft. HTK can be found at http://htk.eng.cam.ac.uk/. and can handle network grammars. This lessens the impact of IBM's news.
They hope to start trials in 2004 and you can sign up at sales@cyberkineticsinc.com. Unfortunately, the software runs only on Windows, so you would run the risk of your brain getting hacked.
One of the unstated advantages of an open source project is that it can serve as an online resume. Employers can only guess at how real your resume is. You may say that you're a hot-shot programmer, but how can an employer really know? Answer, they can download, compile and run your project from SourceForge. If they cannot do this, maybe you don't want to be employed by them anyway.
If you release you code under the GPL, there is nothing to stop you (as the copyright holder) from re-releasing the code under a more commercial license if your open source project is popular or you find a market for it.
Starting your project off as open source is a great idea. Even if it does not take off, your code is out there and other people (and future employers) can see what your programming ability is like without having to take your word for it.
It certainly works for me. I have two project on SourceForge that helped me land two $100k+ jobs.
Not true. Microsoft would also have to make the code well written and maintainable to compete with Linux.
Please don't think I'm joking here.
I work on a technology that will make this possible. It does include crypographic identity assurance. The technology is called Dedicated Short Range Communication and is closely related to 802.11a, but operatinging in the 5.9 GHz region (spectrum has been allocated by FCC). DSRC differs from 802.11a to handle high speed communication between radios. People are already thinking about many of the questions brought up about the technology in the article and the standard (administered by one of the engineering standards body) is in the process of being formed.
can be found here.
Oh wait... this is Slashdot. First we need a browser that blocks Slashdot.
2. Approach phone user silently w/ hand in bag.
3. Remove hand from bag and place on selected part of anatomy.
I don't know about you, but they seem to expect a low level of cognitive ability if you can be distracted by gravity. In fact, I would argue that the distraction of having to breath is greater than that of gravity. Having said that, the device might be also designed to releive you of the necessity for breating also, resulting in a very profound sense of peace.
All this pales in comparison to the greatest search engine evar. Why, you can search all you want for "Linux" and "Apache" on all these other search engines without getting what you want - the answer to all your Linux questions
Many of these services are active by default in Windows. You don't turn them off because you don't know what they are and how vital they are. Then along comes an exploit using software that does not belong on a server (e.g. MediaPlayer) and you are hosed.
Contrast this with Debian, where a minimal install gives you the basics (including ssh) and you can add what you need with apt. For example, I usually install the basic X apps, but do not run X on the console. I either run and X server on a non-server or fire up VNC on one of the servers and shut it down when I'm done. That way I can keep the process table pretty clean, enabling me to spot any unusual acivity.