The DS doesn't have analog sticks, and the ergonomics of the button placements are questionable. The screen makes it top heavy.
It's no Dualshock2 (or even a GameCube controller). So while it might function as a wifi controller, I challenge the idea that it would be a "KICKASS" controller.
That it's implausible to suppose that a large community of contributors might eventually write an operating system that could challenge Windows in the market.
Hey, I love Linux, but I don't see it challenging Windows in the (desktop) market. So you're not really backing up your argument.
If you want to see how to use computers to do math correctly with high confidence, look no further than the military avionics and flight control systems.
You're right, "live-streaming NFL games to another site" is not a big deal (in fact I don't even know what you mean by that). But auto-deleting PPV movies is a _huge_ change that will quite rightly be perceived as a major step backwards in convenience.
I'd call most mainstream network news journalism "fake" before I'd accuse the Daily Show of the same.
Well, John Steward goes to great pains to describe his own show as "fake news" - and I think he, of all people, should know. Of course he's being disingenuous - many a true word is spoken in jest - but the fact is he's been very careful to leave himself the "comedy show" escape clause, and I'm willing to let him have it.
Having said that, the Kerry interview was a disappointment. He should have asked him why he said "knowing what I know now, I'd still vote to invade Iraq". That answer was so weird, so revealing of the-goings-on-behind-the-curtain, that it puckered spacetime.
I find it interesting that no-one is talking about the sad state of the boss. If you're spending 70+% of your time playing solitaire, there's something really wrong with your life. I simply can't imagine that level of inertness, that level of boredom. I'm saddened. Genuinely saddened.
This is a great example of how stiff the challenge is. Graphic design has very little to do with usability design (although there is a relationship - aesthetically pleasing things are often easier to use, please see Norman's "Aesthetic Design").
The fact that this comment was (a) made, and (b) modded "insightful" (implying others nodded, thinking "yes, s/he has a point!" is concerning, because it means the problem is not well understood. And you can't solve a problem you don't understand.
At the highest level, here's how I see the usability situation improving (it will never be "fixed" any more than it's "fixed" in the design of physical objects):
First, someone figures out a good feedback model. Some OSS project/distro gets traction on usability, and makes some big steps forward. The only way this will happen is by having real, dumb, users sit down, and for the resulting train-wreck to be clearly communicated to the developers somehow. And for the developers to be open-minded enough to _hear_ what people are saying, even though it will offend their principles on many levels.
Second, that distro (or maybe just app) is then used as a model, as a reference, a convention. Just like in physical objects.
A good analogy is suitcases. For a long time we had those rectangular things with a teeny handle. It worked, but you had to carry it, it was very awkward when it was full/heavy, it hurt your hand after a while, etc. That's where the "Linux desktop" is now. Maybe not quite that far, because it doesn't always work =] That's where _Microsoft_ is now.
Then some bright spark figured out you could put wheels and a little strap on the suitcase, and that solved a major usability issue. Now you could drag it around, and it was much easier, etc. Soon a lot of suitcases had this feature. It became a convention. This is where MacOS is =]
Recently, someone worked out that you could put the wheels on the long edge of the suitcase, and it would be much more stable. Also, much longer, telescoping handle was added. This configuration is much more usable, and you see them everywhere. That basic design has been copied by pretty much everyone who makes suitcases. No OS is here yet (although some apps probably are).
Of course, current suitcase design still isn't perfect. They still overbalance, and I'm always dragging them into my ankle, which sucks. So there's room for improvement yet.
But OSS needs to go through this kind of process. It'll be "follow the leader", but first a leader has to emerge!
What exactly was the point of that review? In summary:
* I liked it, but I'm not critical so don't take what I'm saying seriously, disagreement makes the world interesting so feel free to hate on my review.
That's dumb. I'm trying to decide whether to see this movie. I grew up on the books, and the trailer has totally put me off (it looks totally genericized). So I read this to find out whether or not it would drive me crazy. I learned nothing from this.
Could this be the first real technology threat for Google?
Maybe, but it's kind of a moot point because that's a really stupid name. I didn't read the article, and quite frankly I don't have to know that this won't catch on unless it's licensed to/duplicated by someone else who gives it a reasonable moniker.
"Oh I found it using Blinkx"? What the hell where they thinking...?
Agreed, parent is totally on crack. Please mod down. I am a professional game developer, and dieman certainly has it backwards. What killed DC was several things, mainly:
1) Sega - the bad taste left by Saturn plus their shitty marketing. 2) EA - refused to support DC, which made a huge dent in the US market. 3) Sony - awesome marketing, and the PS2 could play DVDs. They survived a round of crap launch titles to bring out some great stuff (GT3, for example). 4) Games - apart from Soul Calibur and maybe Virtua Tennis, list the "must haves" for DC?
This is a really weird response. You don't need to trick the user into thinking a task is complete when it isn't. The point is to give timely feedback and never become unresponsive, not hide the state of the sytem. If a task is going to take 20 seconds to complete (e.g., your example of copying a file), then _immediately_ show a progress dialog, and remain instantly responsive while the copy occurs.
I've had some fun with cellphones recently. Have your cell phone in one hand, and use the other to have a friend's cell phone yours (may as well use his minutes, right?).
When the call is established, put the cellphones in... er... a 69 position I guess. Microphone to speaker. You should get some pretty cool feedback this way, and you can 'control' it (sort of) by moving the phones around.
I recently covered the Pixies song "Alec Eiffel" for an online Pixies tribute album (link omitted... don't need the/.-ing), and used my cellphone and answering machine to create some cool noises at the end.
Hm. Neat! The Copernican principal is certainly a fascinating idea.
First, the Copernican principal itself is that the Earth is not the center of the universe. I was referring to a theory colloquially called the "copernican principal of events", a reference to the actual Copernican principal.
Though, I did notice that the author set out by qualifying his thoughts, saying that his formula only works, "If there is nothing special about your observation of something[...]".
Yes, that's the point. The overwhelming likelihood is that your observation of something is not special.
See, I take reincarnation as a given function of reality
Well, that's absurd. But you admit that it's either axiomatic or faith-based for you, so I won't even bother.
Just because there are many people who are idiots, does not mean that all people are idiots.
True. But it has nothing to do with my point, which is that you fall victim to a very common fallacy. You may or may not be an idiot.
Look up "Time Cube"
I wish I hadn't.
I don't actually know much about Carl Sagan
Smart guy. Pot smoker. I mention him to point out the absurd generalization you make when you assert that "drugs are for idiots". Although I think you are making the right choice by avoiding them.
Very simply, if Carl Sagan had real answers, he'd be dead or working for somebody who would kill him if he decided to share his insights.
You speak of brain damage with convincing authority.
Believing that you are one of "the last generation" is surely one of the most common fallacies of the credulous.
Also, you mean "Timewave", not "Time Cube".
In any case, you should probably read this article on the Copernican principle of events. The overwhelming likelihood is that you're not special, friend. Sorry.
Oh, and of course "drugs are for idiots". Like Carl Sagan, you mean? Got it.
Slashdot Mirror
The DS doesn't have analog sticks, and the ergonomics of the button placements are questionable. The screen makes it top heavy.
It's no Dualshock2 (or even a GameCube controller). So while it might function as a wifi controller, I challenge the idea that it would be a "KICKASS" controller.
grib.
* Bull Riding
* Championship Wrestling
* Cyberdyne Warrior
* Cybernoid
* Cybernoid 2
* Eliminator
* Exolon
* Firelord
* Flying Disk
* Gateway to Apshai
* Impossible Mission
* Impossible Mission 2
* Jumpman Jr.
* Paradroid
* Pitstop
* Pitstop 2
* Rana Rama
* Silicon Warrior
* Speedball
* Summer Games
* Super Cycle
* Sumo
* Surfing
* Sword of Fargoal
* Tower Toppler
* Uridium
* Winter Games
* World Karate Champion A
* World Karate Champion B
* Zynaps
Hmm... Paradriod, Uridium, Impossible Mission... (tempted)
grib.
That it's implausible to suppose that a large community of contributors might eventually write an operating system that could challenge Windows in the market.
Hey, I love Linux, but I don't see it challenging Windows in the (desktop) market. So you're not really backing up your argument.
grib.
Mercenaries is pretty rockin'. It is a freeform game, like GTA. No multiplayer.
Disclosure: I'm working on it.
But - it's a pretty amazing game. Seriously, I urge people to check it out! (of course...)
Here's a good preview.
grib.
If you want to see how to use computers to do math correctly with high confidence, look no further than the military avionics and flight control systems.
Right.
grib.
I'm running Vector Linux on a very old Toshiba laptop. Pentium 90, 16MB RAM. It's not blazingly fast, but it works, even running KDE =]
grib.
You're right, "live-streaming NFL games to another site" is not a big deal (in fact I don't even know what you mean by that). But auto-deleting PPV movies is a _huge_ change that will quite rightly be perceived as a major step backwards in convenience.
grib.
I'd call most mainstream network news journalism "fake" before I'd accuse the Daily Show of the same.
Well, John Steward goes to great pains to describe his own show as "fake news" - and I think he, of all people, should know. Of course he's being disingenuous - many a true word is spoken in jest - but the fact is he's been very careful to leave himself the "comedy show" escape clause, and I'm willing to let him have it.
Having said that, the Kerry interview was a disappointment. He should have asked him why he said "knowing what I know now, I'd still vote to invade Iraq". That answer was so weird, so revealing of the-goings-on-behind-the-curtain, that it puckered spacetime.
grib.
I have no idea about this specific case, but I don't think it's particularly paranoid to suggest it.
Alcohol.
=]
grib.
I find it interesting that no-one is talking about the sad state of the boss. If you're spending 70+% of your time playing solitaire, there's something really wrong with your life. I simply can't imagine that level of inertness, that level of boredom. I'm saddened. Genuinely saddened.
grib.
This is a great example of how stiff the challenge is. Graphic design has very little to do with usability design (although there is a relationship - aesthetically pleasing things are often easier to use, please see Norman's "Aesthetic Design").
The fact that this comment was (a) made, and (b) modded "insightful" (implying others nodded, thinking "yes, s/he has a point!" is concerning, because it means the problem is not well understood. And you can't solve a problem you don't understand.
At the highest level, here's how I see the usability situation improving (it will never be "fixed" any more than it's "fixed" in the design of physical objects):
First, someone figures out a good feedback model. Some OSS project/distro gets traction on usability, and makes some big steps forward. The only way this will happen is by having real, dumb, users sit down, and for the resulting train-wreck to be clearly communicated to the developers somehow. And for the developers to be open-minded enough to _hear_ what people are saying, even though it will offend their principles on many levels.
Second, that distro (or maybe just app) is then used as a model, as a reference, a convention. Just like in physical objects.
A good analogy is suitcases. For a long time we had those rectangular things with a teeny handle. It worked, but you had to carry it, it was very awkward when it was full/heavy, it hurt your hand after a while, etc. That's where the "Linux desktop" is now. Maybe not quite that far, because it doesn't always work =] That's where _Microsoft_ is now.
Then some bright spark figured out you could put wheels and a little strap on the suitcase, and that solved a major usability issue. Now you could drag it around, and it was much easier, etc. Soon a lot of suitcases had this feature. It became a convention. This is where MacOS is =]
Recently, someone worked out that you could put the wheels on the long edge of the suitcase, and it would be much more stable. Also, much longer, telescoping handle was added. This configuration is much more usable, and you see them everywhere. That basic design has been copied by pretty much everyone who makes suitcases. No OS is here yet (although some apps probably are).
Of course, current suitcase design still isn't perfect. They still overbalance, and I'm always dragging them into my ankle, which sucks. So there's room for improvement yet.
But OSS needs to go through this kind of process. It'll be "follow the leader", but first a leader has to emerge!
grib.
What exactly was the point of that review? In summary:
* I liked it, but I'm not critical so don't take what I'm saying seriously, disagreement makes the world interesting so feel free to hate on my review.
That's dumb. I'm trying to decide whether to see this movie. I grew up on the books, and the trailer has totally put me off (it looks totally genericized). So I read this to find out whether or not it would drive me crazy. I learned nothing from this.
This was a front page story? God damn.
grib.
Could this be the first real technology threat for Google?
Maybe, but it's kind of a moot point because that's a really stupid name. I didn't read the article, and quite frankly I don't have to know that this won't catch on unless it's licensed to/duplicated by someone else who gives it a reasonable moniker.
"Oh I found it using Blinkx"? What the hell where they thinking...?
grib.
An excellent point well made.
grib.
8. What moron thinks you can ship software faster just by hiring more people?
This is actually EA's game development model, just FYI. Seems to work for them...
grib.
Agreed, parent is totally on crack. Please mod down. I am a professional game developer, and dieman certainly has it backwards. What killed DC was several things, mainly:
1) Sega - the bad taste left by Saturn plus their shitty marketing.
2) EA - refused to support DC, which made a huge dent in the US market.
3) Sony - awesome marketing, and the PS2 could play DVDs. They survived a round of crap launch titles to bring out some great stuff (GT3, for example).
4) Games - apart from Soul Calibur and maybe Virtua Tennis, list the "must haves" for DC?
grib.
This is a really weird response. You don't need to trick the user into thinking a task is complete when it isn't. The point is to give timely feedback and never become unresponsive, not hide the state of the sytem. If a task is going to take 20 seconds to complete (e.g., your example of copying a file), then _immediately_ show a progress dialog, and remain instantly responsive while the copy occurs.
grib.
How can you measure optical resolution in "megapixels"? That doesn't make any sense at all.
I've had some fun with cellphones recently. Have your cell phone in one hand, and use the other to have a friend's cell phone yours (may as well use his minutes, right?).
/.-ing), and used my cellphone and answering machine to create some cool noises at the end.
When the call is established, put the cellphones in... er... a 69 position I guess. Microphone to speaker. You should get some pretty cool feedback this way, and you can 'control' it (sort of) by moving the phones around.
I recently covered the Pixies song "Alec Eiffel" for an online Pixies tribute album (link omitted... don't need the
grib.
Hm. Neat! The Copernican principal is certainly a fascinating idea.
First, the Copernican principal itself is that the Earth is not the center of the universe. I was referring to a theory colloquially called the "copernican principal of events", a reference to the actual Copernican principal.
Though, I did notice that the author set out by qualifying his thoughts, saying that his formula only works, "If there is nothing special about your observation of something[...]".
Yes, that's the point. The overwhelming likelihood is that your observation of something is not special.
See, I take reincarnation as a given function of reality
Well, that's absurd. But you admit that it's either axiomatic or faith-based for you, so I won't even bother.
Just because there are many people who are idiots, does not mean that all people are idiots.
True. But it has nothing to do with my point, which is that you fall victim to a very common fallacy. You may or may not be an idiot.
Look up "Time Cube"
I wish I hadn't.
I don't actually know much about Carl Sagan
Smart guy. Pot smoker. I mention him to point out the absurd generalization you make when you assert that "drugs are for idiots". Although I think you are making the right choice by avoiding them.
Very simply, if Carl Sagan had real answers, he'd be dead or working for somebody who would kill him if he decided to share his insights.
Carl Sagan is dead. I guess he *knew too much* =]
grib.
You speak of brain damage with convincing authority.
Believing that you are one of "the last generation" is surely one of the most common fallacies of the credulous.
Also, you mean "Timewave", not "Time Cube".
In any case, you should probably read this article on the Copernican principle of events. The overwhelming likelihood is that you're not special, friend. Sorry.
Oh, and of course "drugs are for idiots". Like Carl Sagan, you mean? Got it.
grib
You're not even trying. Try 1100 BC.
grib.
You see, this is the problem with the OSS community. "Can someone code that feature?"... get off your ass and do it yourself!
grib.
Howabout the fact that the code windowsXP is based on was leaked to the internet last week.
Er... how 'bout a link on that one?
grib.