Even if Gopher had dominated due to filtering (a premise I don't agree with), multimedia capabilities would have eventually been added to the protocol out of demand. We'd have the same web we have today.
"Suing Napster is stupid! The RIAA should be going after individual copyright infringers. If they just did that, there wouldn't be a problem."
Slashdot in 2009:
"Suing individual copyright infringers is evil! The RIAA should do nothing while everybody pirates everything under the sun. That way, I can keep getting shit for free without feeling guilty."
Also, 128kbps MP3s aren't a standard format anymore. MP3s are generally at least 192, and iTunes is selling 256kbps AAC. Because higher-quality encodes are the standard, I don't see the study's conclusion as a long-term issue.
I don't know if this is really going to be an issue much longer anyway. Most MP3s are encoded at at least 192kbps now, and the iTunes store has been converting its music to iTunes Plus which is 256kbps AAC. 128kbps MP3s are a holdover from the dialup days when file size was more important. They aren't something I would consider prevalent or long-term, and people will get used to higher quality encodes, if they haven't already.
Well, don't forget the difference between an analog recording and a digital sample. CDs are only 16-bit, 44Khz which is not terribly accurate, relatively speaking. Not many people seem to realize that CDs are not a pristine, archival source and are missing sound.
Each new release of OS X might, at best, be compared to a service pack. It's still the same operating system, same applications, same API, etc.
I don't know why there are still trolls who insist that this is true when it's not. A simple glance through ArsTechnica's write-ups on each release of OS X is enough to tell you about the fundamental changes in each release. You're not even right about the APIs being the same. APIs weren't finalized until Tiger.
The previous story must've generated a lot of ad revenue for Slashdot, so we got another one. I'm guessing it'll be a trend now, and Slashdotters will be tricked into thinking this is actually an issue and that anyone outside of Slashdot cares about it.
Apple wants to regulate the quality of third-party software for their platform. So, you're wrong--the correct balance is between. However, your post plays into typical goofy Slashdotter ideals and so will achieve an instant +5.
The worst thing about the Microsoft antitrust trial is that it has conditioned Slashdotters into thinking that any perceived slight against competitors (In a capitalist system? You don't say!) is just cause for a government lawsuit.
You're every left-wing, anti-American stereotype rolled into one post--referencing imperialism, God, "copyright infringement isn't stealing," and more. You think you're enlightened and witty because you're not an American--this is what people do to convince themselves that it's okay that they're not living in the #1 most successful industrialized country in the world.
FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights! I join my fellow Slashdotters in cheering yet another anti-RIAA, pro-piracy article on Slashdot.
The RIAA is the bad guy, not me! Slashdot posts stories that tell me so, making me feel better about all the piracy I take part in. Artists are my slaves, and they shouldn't be given anything for their work. Somebody else will pay them, through concert tickets or t-shirts or something--I don't know, I don't really think about it.
It's not my fault I pirate--the RIAA is evil! Can't you tell from Slashdot's totally objective coverage? They use an "obsolete business" model and ignore the "free advertising" that piracy provides. The RIAA keeps artists in draconian contracts full of pure evil and signed in the blood of newborn babies--artists didn't willingly sign their contracts. I'm helping the artists, you see! I'm striking back at the RIAA and making sure they don't make any money. I just don't think about how the artist doesn't make any money either. I'm not a thief, I swear!
So, I join my fellow Slashdotters in saying FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights!
Non-Americans love to throw out stereotypes like that. And yet when I ask them something like "What is the capital of Florida?"--they don't know. They know as little about our country as we do about theirs. They might even be worse, because they form almost all their opinions about America through portrayals in TV shows, which is really, really stupid.
FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights. I join Slashdot in mocking this hypocrisy, and I look forward to even more pro-piracy articles this week. I live for these stories--every day, I get to make myself feel less guilty for pirating the shit out of everything. After all, it's because of their "obsolete business model!" It's just "free advertising!" Somebody else will pay those artists, through concert tickets or t-shirts or something. I don't really think about it.
The big corporations and the lawmakers are the bad guys here, not me! Artists are my slaves, and they don't deserve shit for their work. As I said, FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights. I'm not doing anything wrong.
The difference is that pirates don't pirate things to rebel against DRM systems. They do it because they want to get shit for free. Any reasons they give are just shaky worldviews they rely on to make themselves not feel guilty for it.
I grant that it is expensive though. I also grant that governments are bad at large IT projects and always give it to the lowest bidder.
Seems like you just tore down your own argument here...
The problem isn't the idea of an electronic system. The problem is the government being involved. Governments fuck things up, constantly. Obama seems to be a big government guy. This scares me.
My favorite justification from pirates is the "obsolete business model" argument. It's like you are purposely ignoring that iTunes and other online music stores have existed for years.
Your piracy has nothing to do with business models. It's just a selfish act of getting something without having to pay for it. I know you and other pirates invent entire belief systems trying to justify it, but it's all a flimsy foundation to make you not feel guilty. "I'm not the bad guy--the RIAA is for their, uh, 'obsolete business model!' Yeah, that's it!"
I was just wondering, could Slashdot become any more biased in the stories it covers on the trial? Every single story is on the side of the Pirate Bay. Now we actually get one where we're supposed to feel sorry for the poor, beleaguered witness whom the prosecutors tried to discredit--the horror, a prosecutor doing what prosecutors do! Those big, mean prosecutors actually caused people to send flowers!
I, for one, hope the people operating the most widely known torrent tracker network in the world get away scott-free so we can continue to rip artists off and not pay them for their work. Let's keep our fingers crossed, eh, Slashdot?
Slashdot Mirror
Even if Gopher had dominated due to filtering (a premise I don't agree with), multimedia capabilities would have eventually been added to the protocol out of demand. We'd have the same web we have today.
Slashdot in 2000:
"Suing Napster is stupid! The RIAA should be going after individual copyright infringers. If they just did that, there wouldn't be a problem."
Slashdot in 2009:
"Suing individual copyright infringers is evil! The RIAA should do nothing while everybody pirates everything under the sun. That way, I can keep getting shit for free without feeling guilty."
Also, 128kbps MP3s aren't a standard format anymore. MP3s are generally at least 192, and iTunes is selling 256kbps AAC. Because higher-quality encodes are the standard, I don't see the study's conclusion as a long-term issue.
I don't know if this is really going to be an issue much longer anyway. Most MP3s are encoded at at least 192kbps now, and the iTunes store has been converting its music to iTunes Plus which is 256kbps AAC. 128kbps MP3s are a holdover from the dialup days when file size was more important. They aren't something I would consider prevalent or long-term, and people will get used to higher quality encodes, if they haven't already.
Well, don't forget the difference between an analog recording and a digital sample. CDs are only 16-bit, 44Khz which is not terribly accurate, relatively speaking. Not many people seem to realize that CDs are not a pristine, archival source and are missing sound.
I don't know why there are still trolls who insist that this is true when it's not. A simple glance through ArsTechnica's write-ups on each release of OS X is enough to tell you about the fundamental changes in each release. You're not even right about the APIs being the same. APIs weren't finalized until Tiger.
The previous story must've generated a lot of ad revenue for Slashdot, so we got another one. I'm guessing it'll be a trend now, and Slashdotters will be tricked into thinking this is actually an issue and that anyone outside of Slashdot cares about it.
Apple wants to regulate the quality of third-party software for their platform. So, you're wrong--the correct balance is between. However, your post plays into typical goofy Slashdotter ideals and so will achieve an instant +5.
The worst thing about the Microsoft antitrust trial is that it has conditioned Slashdotters into thinking that any perceived slight against competitors (In a capitalist system? You don't say!) is just cause for a government lawsuit.
No, sir. It's totally objective to put "Draconian Law" in the headline. There's no way it's an attempt to direct the discussion. Not one bit.
Allow me to summarize Slashdot's record when it comes to predicting Apple's success and failures:
"No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame."
People still watch Colbert? The schtick got old years ago.
Most Macs come with a Mighty Mouse. Your troll wasn't even funny or clever.
It's just a convenient visual model to explain the idea of gravity distorting space-time.
You should look up "sense of humor" on Wikipedia while you're busy busting people's balls.
You're every left-wing, anti-American stereotype rolled into one post--referencing imperialism, God, "copyright infringement isn't stealing," and more. You think you're enlightened and witty because you're not an American--this is what people do to convince themselves that it's okay that they're not living in the #1 most successful industrialized country in the world.
http://www.pimpmysafari.com
FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights! I join my fellow Slashdotters in cheering yet another anti-RIAA, pro-piracy article on Slashdot.
The RIAA is the bad guy, not me! Slashdot posts stories that tell me so, making me feel better about all the piracy I take part in. Artists are my slaves, and they shouldn't be given anything for their work. Somebody else will pay them, through concert tickets or t-shirts or something--I don't know, I don't really think about it.
It's not my fault I pirate--the RIAA is evil! Can't you tell from Slashdot's totally objective coverage? They use an "obsolete business" model and ignore the "free advertising" that piracy provides. The RIAA keeps artists in draconian contracts full of pure evil and signed in the blood of newborn babies--artists didn't willingly sign their contracts. I'm helping the artists, you see! I'm striking back at the RIAA and making sure they don't make any money. I just don't think about how the artist doesn't make any money either. I'm not a thief, I swear!
So, I join my fellow Slashdotters in saying FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights!
Non-Americans love to throw out stereotypes like that. And yet when I ask them something like "What is the capital of Florida?"--they don't know. They know as little about our country as we do about theirs. They might even be worse, because they form almost all their opinions about America through portrayals in TV shows, which is really, really stupid.
FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights. I join Slashdot in mocking this hypocrisy, and I look forward to even more pro-piracy articles this week. I live for these stories--every day, I get to make myself feel less guilty for pirating the shit out of everything. After all, it's because of their "obsolete business model!" It's just "free advertising!" Somebody else will pay those artists, through concert tickets or t-shirts or something. I don't really think about it.
The big corporations and the lawmakers are the bad guys here, not me! Artists are my slaves, and they don't deserve shit for their work. As I said, FUCK artists, and FUCK their rights. I'm not doing anything wrong.
The difference is that pirates don't pirate things to rebel against DRM systems. They do it because they want to get shit for free. Any reasons they give are just shaky worldviews they rely on to make themselves not feel guilty for it.
The Classic Controller doesn't replace the Wii Remote. It simply plugs into it.
Seems like you just tore down your own argument here...
The problem isn't the idea of an electronic system. The problem is the government being involved. Governments fuck things up, constantly. Obama seems to be a big government guy. This scares me.
My favorite justification from pirates is the "obsolete business model" argument. It's like you are purposely ignoring that iTunes and other online music stores have existed for years.
Your piracy has nothing to do with business models. It's just a selfish act of getting something without having to pay for it. I know you and other pirates invent entire belief systems trying to justify it, but it's all a flimsy foundation to make you not feel guilty. "I'm not the bad guy--the RIAA is for their, uh, 'obsolete business model!' Yeah, that's it!"
No wonder you posted anonymously.
I was just wondering, could Slashdot become any more biased in the stories it covers on the trial? Every single story is on the side of the Pirate Bay. Now we actually get one where we're supposed to feel sorry for the poor, beleaguered witness whom the prosecutors tried to discredit--the horror, a prosecutor doing what prosecutors do! Those big, mean prosecutors actually caused people to send flowers!
I, for one, hope the people operating the most widely known torrent tracker network in the world get away scott-free so we can continue to rip artists off and not pay them for their work. Let's keep our fingers crossed, eh, Slashdot?