In spite of all the shameless plugs for various assorted flavors of media players, I haven't seen one plug Quinnware yet. More specifically, their Quintessential Player. Sure the default interface might not be as "nice" as Winamp, but if you're using that OS from Redmond, WA, you get a player that also includes CD ripping/mp3 encoding.
Apologies ahead of time for the shameless plug, but I figured it's only fair to list alternatives in addition to the ones already provided!
The RPOW system is just the first of what are planned as a series of systems which use this approach, which I call Transparent Servers. Such systems publish their source code for review and inspection, and use Trusted Computing-like features to prove that they are running the program generated by that code. This will provide an unprecedented level of transparency and visibility into the workings of network servers.
My reasoning is this: Assume an exploit is discovered in the "Trusted Computing-like features," whereby anyone could query the version of the software that system is running. Next, assume an exploit is discovered in the source (the same source version the system happens to be running a compiled version of). It would be heaven for the computing misfits! No longer would there be the need to run countless probes looking for exploitable software--just ask the software what version it is.
Even security through obscurity is better than this and that says a lot.
Perhaps my perception is wrong, but judging by the volume of posts falling into the categories of "M$ sux0rz, use Linux," "you're stupid if you tried it," or "this is/., you don't post questions about Windows without getting marked flamebait," I'd bargain that no one here has ever tried any of these and probably never will.
Why? Pretty simple, really. Most/.'ers might not even be using Windows; those who are more concerned about performance would be likely to either a) install Linux/*BSD or b) tweak Windows themselves. After all, anyone with even a fleeting notion of performance is likely to switch operating systems rather than using potentially buggy software which itself may be carrying spyware components. I could be wrong, but it seems to me (again, using the Slashdot posts as a benchmark) that most of the folks who have tried "Windows accelerators" don't really know what performance is, how to achieve it, or how to right-click their mouse. I guess I'm a little disappointed that none of the tech-savvy Slashdotters have tried firing up one of these packages in a VM (VMware?) or on an old, spare box. (Come on, folks, at least 99.999% of us have at least a spare box or two lying around--maybe more.)
So, why not try it? Rather than complaining about the question (and the individual posing it), why not dive right in and experiment? I've considered it myself, but given the fact that the audience here doesn't seem interested in a legimate answer, I'm somewhat reluctant. (I also suspect this comment is going to be given a -1, Offtopic...)
In a commercial environment, I make developers do it, but, except on the few big OSSes that are run basically like commerical operations, how are we really sure it is more, and not less, secure?
While you may be correct -- Open Source may very well be riddled with just as many bugs -- the argument shouldn't be focused on which is more secure but rather on which is more fixable. Open Source is rendered a benefit that closed source lacks: the ability to fix the source yourself. Compare the security flaws released in the last six months on sites like CERT--generally, Open Source outfits release patches much sooner than commercial counterparts. Sure, this doesn't always hold true, but Open Source grants yet another benefit: Users of Open Source are, IMO, more aware of the implications and importance of security and are thus more proactive when an exploit is discovered.
And, again, I can't stress the "fix it yourself" argument enough!
The author of the parent post is correct, the entire "abuse" wasn't just recently discovered. In fact, there is a transcript of the Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing that mentions briefly the same allegations that have been floating around in the press as of late.
Personally, I think the Associated Press writer needs to be fired for misrepresenting the facts; although, it is possible that he or she was merely using information available at the time. Regardless, this is just a blatant demonstration of the agenda behind purportedly unbiased reporting. Someone, somewhere saw an opportunity to pin this on an individual very high up in the chain of command (Rumsfeld) even though it is outdated news.
Yes, folks, even with the Information Age upon us, the three day delay between taking the pictures at Iwojima and publishing them was much faster than what happened here. The reason? The Pentagon didn't want them to be released for a while after the incident. (Though, it's a bit silly to discuss an investigation this late into the game--except to save face.)
I only quickly skimmed through most of the comments but didn't find anything suggesting alternatives. I haven't the foggiest notion how many/.ers are former or present trackers, though I suspect that a fair majority of the "oldschool" trackers (myself included) have become involved with the Open Source community, even if fleetingly. MP3.com certainly wasn't the first to offer free "indie" music nor will they be the last. Anyone who remembers Hornet or Trax in Space should know this. Hell, I think I've seen a few tracking proggies listed on SourceForge (cheese tracker is one of them, I believe).
So here's my question: Are there any fairly decent archives still available or has the RIAA successfully vanquished them from the 'Net? It's been a long time since I've delved into the Tracking Scene, so short of modarchive, I can't think of any decent sites...
Or... here's an idea that maybe some Slashdotter (or Slashdotters) could run with. Why not create a sort of OpenMusic directory where songs fall under a derivative of the GPL -- maybe an MPL, Music Public Licence -- for music? I would imagine that, if the artist desired of course, these songs could be freely modified (remixed) and redistributed in a fashion synonymous to how OSS typically lives. I'm not sure how well it'd work but the experiment itself would be interesting.
I like this idea especially since I have a mild distaste of the telephone company. However, I have a few questions:
If the technology works fairly well and is pushed into rural America (where I happen to live), they'll definitely have to solve the all too common power outages, right? And what about those nasty brown-outs?
From what I recall, one of the problems with earlier models (I believe this was in Discover magazine or maybe Scientific American) was the line noise created by motors. Would this mean you would have no Internet while you vacuumed the house?
The electrical systems in Europe are significantly different than those here in the States. What are some of the problems that would be faced attempting to expand the technology to the US market? It's a stupid question, but I'm curious.
Finally, what about power surges? With telephone lines, you can at least put a surge supressor on it, cross your fingers and hope a surge or lightning strike down the road fries the supressor instead. What effect would a supressor have, if any, on the signal? I'm sure that's a foolish question and the effect would probably be next to nothing, but with all the noise created by different devices, how on Earth do they expect to overcome these particular issues while transmitting data for, say, even a mile or two?
Anyway, I definitely have to agree. I fail to understand why the liar... err... lawyers indicate that someone's site easily confuses the public with the Toho figures. This is what's sad: I used to think sue-happy corporations/individuals/enteryourleastfavoritenim rod here were essentially a past time of America. Apparently other countries have caught on quickly. Maybe the trial lawyers need to be vacated from this world and we need tort reform dagnabit. </soapbox>
Hmmm... Good points, although I don't entirely agree with the lawsuit against McDonalds. IMHO, the worst thing that has ever happened to this world in general and America in particular is the infestation of a strange and bizarre creature we call "lawyers." Regardless of the lawsuit, the only people who ever make out on top are going to be the leeche... err... lawyers. It doesn't matter if you're complaining about someone using your "neato" idea or burning your private parts with blisteringly hot coffee.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I think the Ivy League Uni's would do the world a favor if they quit churning out lawyers like Microsoft does hotfixes. And I'm not going to even TOUCH what I think about the software patents -- while it does protect your IP, if it's something obscure (i.e., generically definied) and/or well known or used, like JPEGS, you're either going to hurt your own reputation as a company or are going to negatively impact those of us who are actually trying to do something good for the community...
That we live in a society that is more willing to send people into space with only a 99.9% chance of success, yet we freak out when a search engine on the Internet drops below 99.999% reliability? Great. Remind me never to work for NASA.
Light from the 650 nm laser is focused on an object, such as a fingertip, creating an external cavity.
I don't know about other/.ers, but that phrase seems a little disturbing -- maybe I just haven't had enough coffee. So what happens if the power is upped on this little gizmo? Does it focus on an external crater?
I can just see it, "Sorry I didn't call honey, but my thumb blew off when I tried to phone home."
Let's merge the two and form "Broadband TV." That would be kinda handy if you could monitor your network usage with a television set (although I don't really see why). Hmm... I can see the implications of this for a lazy admin with a softspot for b-rated movies and backward television taste.
This is actually quite a funny topic today considering I don't really live all that far away from Roswell (at least, in New Mexico's terms -- to us, 100+ miles "really isn't that far"). The reason for my humor: UFO sightings -- last I checked -- have actually dropped in this State of the Union. I'm not sure if it's because Scotch sales have dropped over the last few years or because we have so many DWI's that the possible "sightings" are really just police checkpoints =D
Aside from that, I would definitely have to agree with some of the other/.ers that it is kinda funny how UFO sightings are common only in remote regions of the country. Then again, New Mexico has seen some of the government's strangest experiments anyway, so the local sightings might not be sightings at all =) Let's see... Trinity Site... F-117s... God knows what else.
...still, that doesn't explain Scotland unless the aliens have a bizarre taste for bagpipes.
Well, since we patent/copyright the greenbacks, that means we will be the only ones with green money. Then, if someone does happen to copy it, we can use our weapons of war to impose new food additives in other nations' alternative fuel!
Come on, people, doesn't it occur to you that there might be a cultural thing going on here? I'm an American (and damn proud of it), but that doesn't mean I'm against changing the color of the bills. Hell, it'll certainly stop me from pulling out a 5 when I meant to pull out a 20 for gas. I suggest that you anti-America folks here on/. lighten up a bit and realize that you are probably complaining about the "noisy minority." Why? Because a majority of Americans really don't give a flying you-know-what on this issue; it's really only the (few) cultural die-hards who think that green is somehow superior.
Good example: you should see the look on other Americans' faces when I pull out an Australian bill. The first response of these individuals is either "Wow, that is so cool," or "I wish our money was like this!"
So, again, perhaps you should lighten up before flaming America and our weapons of war, additives, and patents or we'll bomb you with patented additives.
I have found some of the tips in the Code Obfuscation Guide to be reasonably helpful if not entertaining. After all, no one else is going to ever have to look at your source code, right? (Browny points for anyone who can highlight each of the tips in this particular guide used by Microsoft.)
I always thought that most artists produced their work as an addition to this vast pool of collective creative work and knowledge. Apparently the concept of capitalism (which is a very good concept, don't get me wrong) has so taken over many of these artists that they believe "theft" of their "property" is a crime justified by punishment -- without even considering that the reason for this theft might have been popularity. This almost seems contrary to the argument that file sharing services have actually increased sales -- not decreased them!
Perhaps I am too biased toward this concept of communal good and the betterment of our race in general, but I would be inclined to believe that most artists would rather rest at night knowing that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE is actually listening to their music! As far as I'm concerned, I think that personal greed has so gripped the music industry (I suppose it could be argued that this is the reason for RIAA's existence) that no longer are the artists producing art -- they're producing a product that is manufactured to be sold, not heard (this came to mind after the "A" paper analogy, so apologies if it seems somewhat offtopic).
I personally support the Open Source movement. I am not a pacifist, Buddhist, or "peace lubber," however. In fact, I believe the military should use Open Source -- if for no other reason than to simply kill people with the cleanest, shortest code possible. After all, you wouldn't necessarily want someone to use a buffer overflow on your bomb, do you?
What a wonderful idea! Nothing like selling other folk's bandwidth and CPU cycles to the highest bidder... I just thought this sort of computer hardware prostitution would have been made illegal...
Slashdot Mirror
In spite of all the shameless plugs for various assorted flavors of media players, I haven't seen one plug Quinnware yet. More specifically, their Quintessential Player. Sure the default interface might not be as "nice" as Winamp, but if you're using that OS from Redmond, WA, you get a player that also includes CD ripping/mp3 encoding.
Apologies ahead of time for the shameless plug, but I figured it's only fair to list alternatives in addition to the ones already provided!
From the article:
The RPOW system is just the first of what are planned as a series of systems which use this approach, which I call Transparent Servers. Such systems publish their source code for review and inspection, and use Trusted Computing-like features to prove that they are running the program generated by that code. This will provide an unprecedented level of transparency and visibility into the workings of network servers.
My reasoning is this: Assume an exploit is discovered in the "Trusted Computing-like features," whereby anyone could query the version of the software that system is running. Next, assume an exploit is discovered in the source (the same source version the system happens to be running a compiled version of). It would be heaven for the computing misfits! No longer would there be the need to run countless probes looking for exploitable software--just ask the software what version it is.
Even security through obscurity is better than this and that says a lot.
Perhaps my perception is wrong, but judging by the volume of posts falling into the categories of "M$ sux0rz, use Linux," "you're stupid if you tried it," or "this is /., you don't post questions about Windows without getting marked flamebait," I'd bargain that no one here has ever tried any of these and probably never will.
/.'ers might not even be using Windows; those who are more concerned about performance would be likely to either a) install Linux/*BSD or b) tweak Windows themselves. After all, anyone with even a fleeting notion of performance is likely to switch operating systems rather than using potentially buggy software which itself may be carrying spyware components. I could be wrong, but it seems to me (again, using the Slashdot posts as a benchmark) that most of the folks who have tried "Windows accelerators" don't really know what performance is, how to achieve it, or how to right-click their mouse. I guess I'm a little disappointed that none of the tech-savvy Slashdotters have tried firing up one of these packages in a VM (VMware?) or on an old, spare box. (Come on, folks, at least 99.999% of us have at least a spare box or two lying around--maybe more.)
Why? Pretty simple, really. Most
So, why not try it? Rather than complaining about the question (and the individual posing it), why not dive right in and experiment? I've considered it myself, but given the fact that the audience here doesn't seem interested in a legimate answer, I'm somewhat reluctant. (I also suspect this comment is going to be given a -1, Offtopic...)
Anyone remember these commercials?
Perish the thought should students start writing about the dangers of artificial intelligence. They may very well fail!
In a commercial environment, I make developers do it, but, except on the few big OSSes that are run basically like commerical operations, how are we really sure it is more, and not less, secure?
While you may be correct -- Open Source may very well be riddled with just as many bugs -- the argument shouldn't be focused on which is more secure but rather on which is more fixable. Open Source is rendered a benefit that closed source lacks: the ability to fix the source yourself. Compare the security flaws released in the last six months on sites like CERT--generally, Open Source outfits release patches much sooner than commercial counterparts. Sure, this doesn't always hold true, but Open Source grants yet another benefit: Users of Open Source are, IMO, more aware of the implications and importance of security and are thus more proactive when an exploit is discovered.
And, again, I can't stress the "fix it yourself" argument enough!
The author of the parent post is correct, the entire "abuse" wasn't just recently discovered. In fact, there is a transcript of the Coalition Provisional Authority Briefing that mentions briefly the same allegations that have been floating around in the press as of late.
Personally, I think the Associated Press writer needs to be fired for misrepresenting the facts; although, it is possible that he or she was merely using information available at the time. Regardless, this is just a blatant demonstration of the agenda behind purportedly unbiased reporting. Someone, somewhere saw an opportunity to pin this on an individual very high up in the chain of command (Rumsfeld) even though it is outdated news.
Yes, folks, even with the Information Age upon us, the three day delay between taking the pictures at Iwojima and publishing them was much faster than what happened here. The reason? The Pentagon didn't want them to be released for a while after the incident. (Though, it's a bit silly to discuss an investigation this late into the game--except to save face.)
I only quickly skimmed through most of the comments but didn't find anything suggesting alternatives. I haven't the foggiest notion how many /.ers are former or present trackers, though I suspect that a fair majority of the "oldschool" trackers (myself included) have become involved with the Open Source community, even if fleetingly. MP3.com certainly wasn't the first to offer free "indie" music nor will they be the last. Anyone who remembers Hornet or Trax in Space should know this. Hell, I think I've seen a few tracking proggies listed on SourceForge (cheese tracker is one of them, I believe).
So here's my question: Are there any fairly decent archives still available or has the RIAA successfully vanquished them from the 'Net? It's been a long time since I've delved into the Tracking Scene, so short of modarchive, I can't think of any decent sites...
Or... here's an idea that maybe some Slashdotter (or Slashdotters) could run with. Why not create a sort of OpenMusic directory where songs fall under a derivative of the GPL -- maybe an MPL, Music Public Licence -- for music? I would imagine that, if the artist desired of course, these songs could be freely modified (remixed) and redistributed in a fashion synonymous to how OSS typically lives. I'm not sure how well it'd work but the experiment itself would be interesting.
--
I like this idea especially since I have a mild distaste of the telephone company. However, I have a few questions:
If the technology works fairly well and is pushed into rural America (where I happen to live), they'll definitely have to solve the all too common power outages, right? And what about those nasty brown-outs?
From what I recall, one of the problems with earlier models (I believe this was in Discover magazine or maybe Scientific American) was the line noise created by motors. Would this mean you would have no Internet while you vacuumed the house?
The electrical systems in Europe are significantly different than those here in the States. What are some of the problems that would be faced attempting to expand the technology to the US market? It's a stupid question, but I'm curious.
Finally, what about power surges? With telephone lines, you can at least put a surge supressor on it, cross your fingers and hope a surge or lightning strike down the road fries the supressor instead. What effect would a supressor have, if any, on the signal? I'm sure that's a foolish question and the effect would probably be next to nothing, but with all the noise created by different devices, how on Earth do they expect to overcome these particular issues while transmitting data for, say, even a mile or two?
My post is probably flaimbait and highly off-topic, but the parent makes a really good point! Mod sdjunky up!
Can I get a license from the game warden?
... err ... lawyers indicate that someone's site easily confuses the public with the Toho figures. This is what's sad: I used to think sue-happy corporations/individuals/enteryourleastfavoritenim rod here were essentially a past time of America. Apparently other countries have caught on quickly. Maybe the trial lawyers need to be vacated from this world and we need tort reform dagnabit. </soapbox>
Anyway, I definitely have to agree. I fail to understand why the liar
Hmmm... Good points, although I don't entirely agree with the lawsuit against McDonalds. IMHO, the worst thing that has ever happened to this world in general and America in particular is the infestation of a strange and bizarre creature we call "lawyers." Regardless of the lawsuit, the only people who ever make out on top are going to be the leeche... err ... lawyers. It doesn't matter if you're complaining about someone using your "neato" idea or burning your private parts with blisteringly hot coffee.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I think the Ivy League Uni's would do the world a favor if they quit churning out lawyers like Microsoft does hotfixes. And I'm not going to even TOUCH what I think about the software patents -- while it does protect your IP, if it's something obscure (i.e., generically definied) and/or well known or used, like JPEGS, you're either going to hurt your own reputation as a company or are going to negatively impact those of us who are actually trying to do something good for the community...
I think this was a little incoherent =D
That we live in a society that is more willing to send people into space with only a 99.9% chance of success, yet we freak out when a search engine on the Internet drops below 99.999% reliability? Great. Remind me never to work for NASA.
So what kind of uptime are YOU going for?
Does this mean they will be showcasing their FreeBSD mail servers that have served them so well with hotmail?
Light from the 650 nm laser is focused on an object, such as a fingertip, creating an external cavity.
/.ers, but that phrase seems a little disturbing -- maybe I just haven't had enough coffee. So what happens if the power is upped on this little gizmo? Does it focus on an external crater?
I don't know about other
I can just see it, "Sorry I didn't call honey, but my thumb blew off when I tried to phone home."
Let's merge the two and form "Broadband TV." That would be kinda handy if you could monitor your network usage with a television set (although I don't really see why). Hmm... I can see the implications of this for a lazy admin with a softspot for b-rated movies and backward television taste.
This is actually quite a funny topic today considering I don't really live all that far away from Roswell (at least, in New Mexico's terms -- to us, 100+ miles "really isn't that far"). The reason for my humor: UFO sightings -- last I checked -- have actually dropped in this State of the Union. I'm not sure if it's because Scotch sales have dropped over the last few years or because we have so many DWI's that the possible "sightings" are really just police checkpoints =D
/.ers that it is kinda funny how UFO sightings are common only in remote regions of the country. Then again, New Mexico has seen some of the government's strangest experiments anyway, so the local sightings might not be sightings at all =) Let's see ... Trinity Site ... F-117s ... God knows what else.
Aside from that, I would definitely have to agree with some of the other
...still, that doesn't explain Scotland unless the aliens have a bizarre taste for bagpipes.
Well, since we patent/copyright the greenbacks, that means we will be the only ones with green money. Then, if someone does happen to copy it, we can use our weapons of war to impose new food additives in other nations' alternative fuel!
/. lighten up a bit and realize that you are probably complaining about the "noisy minority." Why? Because a majority of Americans really don't give a flying you-know-what on this issue; it's really only the (few) cultural die-hards who think that green is somehow superior.
Come on, people, doesn't it occur to you that there might be a cultural thing going on here? I'm an American (and damn proud of it), but that doesn't mean I'm against changing the color of the bills. Hell, it'll certainly stop me from pulling out a 5 when I meant to pull out a 20 for gas. I suggest that you anti-America folks here on
Good example: you should see the look on other Americans' faces when I pull out an Australian bill. The first response of these individuals is either "Wow, that is so cool," or "I wish our money was like this!"
So, again, perhaps you should lighten up before flaming America and our weapons of war, additives, and patents or we'll bomb you with patented additives.
I have found some of the tips in the Code Obfuscation Guide to be reasonably helpful if not entertaining. After all, no one else is going to ever have to look at your source code, right? (Browny points for anyone who can highlight each of the tips in this particular guide used by Microsoft.)
Flamebait my rear excretement generation duct. I am beginning to think that we have some leftists here whose feelings are easily hurt.
Of course technology can make money for you. However, using technology in the duplication of monetary bills is considered a crime ;-)
I always thought that most artists produced their work as an addition to this vast pool of collective creative work and knowledge. Apparently the concept of capitalism (which is a very good concept, don't get me wrong) has so taken over many of these artists that they believe "theft" of their "property" is a crime justified by punishment -- without even considering that the reason for this theft might have been popularity. This almost seems contrary to the argument that file sharing services have actually increased sales -- not decreased them!
Perhaps I am too biased toward this concept of communal good and the betterment of our race in general, but I would be inclined to believe that most artists would rather rest at night knowing that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE is actually listening to their music! As far as I'm concerned, I think that personal greed has so gripped the music industry (I suppose it could be argued that this is the reason for RIAA's existence) that no longer are the artists producing art -- they're producing a product that is manufactured to be sold, not heard (this came to mind after the "A" paper analogy, so apologies if it seems somewhat offtopic).
I personally support the Open Source movement. I am not a pacifist, Buddhist, or "peace lubber," however. In fact, I believe the military should use Open Source -- if for no other reason than to simply kill people with the cleanest, shortest code possible. After all, you wouldn't necessarily want someone to use a buffer overflow on your bomb, do you?
What a wonderful idea! Nothing like selling other folk's bandwidth and CPU cycles to the highest bidder... I just thought this sort of computer hardware prostitution would have been made illegal...