A senior official overseeing the project acknowledged it could be intrusive and pledged to use it with restraint. "It's scary. It could be abused. I mean, I can call up everything about you, your pictures and pictures of your neighbors," said Phil Ramer, special agent in charge of statewide intelligence. "Our biggest problem now is everybody who hears about it wants it."
If you think the DMCA or the CDBTPA was a threat to your personal liberty, you would be outraged and disgusted by the recently passed anti-terrorism legislation, the PATRIOT Act.
The Dakota Digital Single-Use Camera will be available beginning July 28th at Ritz Camera and Wolf Camera locations in more than 14 cities, including Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas.
How exactly is it stealing? You buy a product and use it for a purpose other than what the seller intended. That's *not* inherently wrong. Are you suggesting that the camera come with a EULA stating that you can't mod it?
Anti-consumer indicates they want to make profits by sacrificing something from the consumer. ALL businesses do this to some extent, but there are limits to what they can expect consumers to take before balking.
So what you're saying is that if enough people use the day pass method and Salon stays afloat, but you don't find that method reasonable, then their service is not profitable?
Uh, no. If enough people use the Day Pass method for Salon to stay profitable, good for them! They obviously have enough quality of content that visitors are willing to sit through ads for access. But if they notice that they are getting fewer and fewer hits and start to lose money, I want them to realize why. I don't want them to take the **IA route and blame their customers when in fact, it's *always* a business' own fault if they can't generate revenue. It's their job to *earn* money, not our job to *provide* that money. Get it?
As for better examples, check out the fscking web-site your currently reading! Did you have to sit through 30 seconds of advertising to read this post? No? Would you? Ever searched for something on that little-known site, Google? I bet they have quite a bit of equipment, bandwith, employees, etc to pay for. But do you sit through 30 second ads to use their services? No? Would you?
So you are arguing that these people *want* a book entitled "... for Dummies" and are more likely to purchase it, as opposed to something more tactful? Cause that's really what my original post was all about. Nothing more.
Re:Tough cookies? - Re:full article text, no pass
on
Software Archaeology
·
· Score: 1
Wrong. You see "free registration required" which lets high-quality content sites such as the New York Times and many others track your online patterns over the long-term and develop a user profile that will ultimately serve ads based on your interests.
Right. And do *I* read NYT? No. Their content is not worth my time/effort to deal with their ad system.
Anti-consumer? Technical issues aside, the FREE DAY PASS model among the most pro-consumer models since the Internet bubble burst. The advertising business and ad-supported media have been hit hard, along with the workers who have been laid off as a result. Would you prefer to go through a tedious registration process that asks for all kinds of demographic details to gain access or click a link, wait 30 seconds and then read the entire site's content at no charge to you. It is a WIN-WIN-WIN proposition for all involved. Salon gets much-needed revenue for what you presumably believe are valuable and interesting articles, the advertiser gets to expose you to its products and you get a thought-provoking feature. The extra 30 seconds for the ad is trivial compared to the time you take to read the entire article.
Anti-consumer? Yes. Anything that causes frustration on my part as a consumer, is anti-consumer. Simple. It is in a business's best interest to pamper me as much as they can. If they can't do that and make a profit at the same time, they have to choose. But, fortunately, I also get to choose.
You forgot:
C) I don't value the work of others so I am unwilling to use your Day Pass system.
Your definition of 'reasonable'' seems to be that Salon's writers should work for free so that you can reap the benefits. Believe it or not, you aren't entitled to get everything at no cost. It is obvious that Salon is not profitable and this is public knowledge - it is a public company. The Day Pass system is a reasonable compromise between you accessing Salon's features at no monetary cost, and Salon being able to pay its staff and freelance writers
Right. But you forgot that C x N = B. When enough of us become unwilling to jump through hoops to view an article, you get scenario B (un-profitability.) It's funny that neither Google nor Slashdot forces me to sit through 30 second ads. Are they just behind the times, or are they funded by wealthy benefactors? No, I'm not entitled to get everything at no cost, but neither is Salon entitled to earn money from me. It works both ways. Day Pass may be a *reasonable* compromise to you, but not to me. Guess what, not everyone is like you (or me.) At this rate, some of you will be saying that entering your bank account info and the deed to your house is a *reasonable* compromise for reading some freelance writer's morning blog.
It's your right to vote with your feet but nowhere in your criticism of Salon did I find anything that said you found the content to be poor or lacking.
Right. And that's all my commnet was about. *My* rights and *my* opinions. I did make it clear that to *me,* Salon's content was poor in that it did NOT motivate me to use their ad system.
Everything in my posts are my own opinions. I'm not trying to dictate policy to anyone. If I'm in a restaurant and receive poor service, I make my complaints known (tactfully.) If management wants to listen and attempt to improve, good for them. If they want to ignore me and go on the way things are, that's their right. But it's also my right to not patronize the establishment anymore. If more consumers would do this, I think we'd all be a lot happier with our business relationships. Poor customer service would be a thing of the past.
That book isn't aimed at us. It's aimed at a non-computer-oriented user in a Solaris environment.
Exactly. And can you describe the details of that typical scenario? I'm pretty sure it's not "Jane Doe wants to do some work on her husband's computer, but he's running Solaris 9. So she buys a Dummies book to learn her way around." More than likely, this takes place in a corporate environment, where some users are thrust into Solaris. If so, why not change the title of the book to something a little less inflamatory? If I were a SW Project Manager and walked into a staff meeting only to see all my programmers reading "How to Program in C++ for Dummies," I'd probably freak out. If the *same* book was titled "How to Increase Productivity, Quality, and Profits using C++," I'd feel a little better. But maybe that's why I'm not a manager...
Why is it okay for those titles but not for solaris? you're an elitist asshole.
*sigh*
It's "okay" for those titles because the target audience can feel comfortable reading a "Dummies" book. My mother would have no objections to reading/buying a "Windows98 for Dummies" book. On the other hand, your typical techno-wannabe has a very fragile ego and would generally not be secure enough to even be seen flipping through one at the bookstore. It's a classic scenario, typically seen in gender issues (asking for directions, watching "chick flicks," etc.)
But releasing books under that title will *not* attract the type of people this book is aimed at. (As mentioned in the summary, how many of you read "Dummies" books) They are working purely on brand recognition, but in this case, I think that's a bad idea. How about "Beginner's Guide to Solaris" instead?
Re:full article text, no pass required
on
Software Archaeology
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
You know, my first response to this is "tough cookies." I don't see any other popular sites using this forced-ad-viewing method. If they did, I would just delete my bookmarks for them.
Any entity that begins to implement anti-consumer actions in order to stay afloat are doomed to begin with (RIAA, SCO, etc.) If you can't stay out of the red by simply providing your service with a *reasonable* amount of revenue-generating methods, then that should tell you that either:
a) You need better revenue-generating methods
or b) Your service isn't profitable
Like most online entities in trouble, you assume (a) and look for alternate ways to get paid. Unfortunatly, instead of finding better "quality" services, you sacrifice your customer's resources (time, effort, patience, etc) instead. Eventually, you cross that fine line between mild-nuisance and "not worth the effort."
I find your recent actions "not worth the effort" and will not be visiting your site. But hey, that's just one netizen. What harm can that do, right?
I was wondering how they were going to use an aged Harrison Ford in the next Indiana movie! Obviously, he will have become a "software archeologist," and thus never have to leave his cubicle.
*snaps whip*
"Fetch me another Mountain Dew, Shorty!"
Stupid Thunderbird's not searching for text by default anymore
You people are viewing the articles with an email client!? That could explain a lot..
Re:Other reviews by Timothy
on
Decipher
·
· Score: 1
Don't forget: Vader is Luke's father!!!
Re:Another review: Planet of the Apes
on
Decipher
·
· Score: 1
Best. Review. Ever.
Seriously, that's exactly the same tone this review had. I envioned a 3rd grader standing in front of his class and making alot of "Uhs" and "ums" while shifting his weight back and worth.
You need Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP You need Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher - Upgrade Now You need RealPlayer 8.0 or higher - Upgrade Now OR Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher - Upgrade Now You need a Connection Speed of 128 kbps or higher - Retake Connection Speed Scripting must be enabled
To enable jscript, follow these steps: Internet Explorer 5
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Set the security to Medium on "Trusted Sites" and click "Apply" If jscript still doesn't function:
1. Highlight the "Internet" icon and click "Custom Level..."
2. Select "Enable" on all 3 radio buttons under "Scripting"
3. Click "OK" Internet Explorer 6
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Highlight the "Internet" icon and click "Custom Level..."
4. Select "Enable" on all 3 radio buttons under "Scripting" Cookies must be enabled
To enable cookies, follow these steps: Internet Explorer 5
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Highlight the "Internet" icon and click "Custom Level..."
4. Select "Enable" on all radio buttons under "Cookies"
5. Click "OK" Internet Explorer 6
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Privacy" tab and press "Advanced..."
3. Check "Override automatic cookie handling"
4. Accept both cookie options and check "Always allow session cookies"
5. Click "OK"
Some people, in comments widely circulated on the Internet, contend that the company's software has been designed to allow voter fraud. Mr. Rubin called such assertions "ludicrous" and said the software's flaws showed the hallmarks of poor design, not subterfuge.
Slashdot Mirror
Hey, you shouldn't discriminate against people with Mono. After all, it's a kissing bug, baby!
Here's a review of a "Rocket Drive" (PCI card with SDRAM)
OC Addiction
I have no idea why it's so expensive, except maybe because it has power backup.
I assume he means a document that has plenty of white-space, is light on text, and has a few, concise statements highlighted with bullets.
;)
You know, like:
------
I am writing to address the problem of:
* BLAH BLAH BLAH
This problems has 3 main properties:
1) BLAH
2) BLAH
3) BLAH
Some possible suggestions to remedy this are:
* BLAH
* BLAH
* BLAH
------
Now, whether you actually need to substitue words for the BLAHs, I don't know.
..now how much would you pay for VMWare?
But wait! There's more! The first Karma-whore to post about VMWare on Slashdot will receive some moderation points... absolutely FREE!
Order your copy now, while there's still time!
---
Sheesh.
I *wish* I had to time to make obnoxious posts to slashdot all day.
Er.. wait a minute...
Not just in Wisconsin: LINK
How exactly is it stealing? You buy a product and use it for a purpose other than what the seller intended. That's *not* inherently wrong. Are you suggesting that the camera come with a EULA stating that you can't mod it?
Step off your high-horse, buddy.
Anti-consumer indicates they want to make profits by sacrificing something from the consumer. ALL businesses do this to some extent, but there are limits to what they can expect consumers to take before balking.
So what you're saying is that if enough people use the day pass method and Salon stays afloat, but you don't find that method reasonable, then their service is not profitable?
Uh, no. If enough people use the Day Pass method for Salon to stay profitable, good for them! They obviously have enough quality of content that visitors are willing to sit through ads for access. But if they notice that they are getting fewer and fewer hits and start to lose money, I want them to realize why. I don't want them to take the **IA route and blame their customers when in fact, it's *always* a business' own fault if they can't generate revenue. It's their job to *earn* money, not our job to *provide* that money. Get it?
As for better examples, check out the fscking web-site your currently reading! Did you have to sit through 30 seconds of advertising to read this post? No? Would you? Ever searched for something on that little-known site, Google? I bet they have quite a bit of equipment, bandwith, employees, etc to pay for. But do you sit through 30 second ads to use their services? No? Would you?
So you are arguing that these people *want* a book entitled "... for Dummies" and are more likely to purchase it, as opposed to something more tactful? Cause that's really what my original post was all about. Nothing more.
Everything in my posts are my own opinions. I'm not trying to dictate policy to anyone. If I'm in a restaurant and receive poor service, I make my complaints known (tactfully.) If management wants to listen and attempt to improve, good for them. If they want to ignore me and go on the way things are, that's their right. But it's also my right to not patronize the establishment anymore. If more consumers would do this, I think we'd all be a lot happier with our business relationships. Poor customer service would be a thing of the past.
It's "okay" for those titles because the target audience can feel comfortable reading a "Dummies" book. My mother would have no objections to reading/buying a "Windows98 for Dummies" book. On the other hand, your typical techno-wannabe has a very fragile ego and would generally not be secure enough to even be seen flipping through one at the bookstore. It's a classic scenario, typically seen in gender issues (asking for directions, watching "chick flicks," etc.)
Asshole? Probably.
Elitist? No.
I mean, "... for Dummies" may be ok for:
Win95
Losing weight
Yoga
etc...
But releasing books under that title will *not* attract the type of people this book is aimed at. (As mentioned in the summary, how many of you read "Dummies" books) They are working purely on brand recognition, but in this case, I think that's a bad idea. How about "Beginner's Guide to Solaris" instead?
You know, my first response to this is "tough cookies." I don't see any other popular sites using this forced-ad-viewing method. If they did, I would just delete my bookmarks for them.
Any entity that begins to implement anti-consumer actions in order to stay afloat are doomed to begin with (RIAA, SCO, etc.) If you can't stay out of the red by simply providing your service with a *reasonable* amount of revenue-generating methods, then that should tell you that either:
a) You need better revenue-generating methods
or
b) Your service isn't profitable
Like most online entities in trouble, you assume (a) and look for alternate ways to get paid. Unfortunatly, instead of finding better "quality" services, you sacrifice your customer's resources (time, effort, patience, etc) instead. Eventually, you cross that fine line between mild-nuisance and "not worth the effort."
I find your recent actions "not worth the effort" and will not be visiting your site. But hey, that's just one netizen. What harm can that do, right?
"DAT tapes. Why did it have to be DAT tapes?"
What about when I print off an interesting article and tape it outside my cube? Is that infringement?
I was wondering how they were going to use an aged Harrison Ford in the next Indiana movie! Obviously, he will have become a "software archeologist," and thus never have to leave his cubicle.
*snaps whip*
"Fetch me another Mountain Dew, Shorty!"
You people are viewing the articles with an email client!? That could explain a lot..
Don't forget: Vader is Luke's father!!!
Best. Review. Ever.
Seriously, that's exactly the same tone this review had. I envioned a 3rd grader standing in front of his class and making alot of "Uhs" and "ums" while shifting his weight back and worth.
+5 'teh funny'
Do mpeg4 and divx have easily-enforced DRM?
Movielink Minimum Requirements
You need Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
You need Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher - Upgrade Now
You need RealPlayer 8.0 or higher - Upgrade Now OR
Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher - Upgrade Now
You need a Connection Speed of 128 kbps or higher - Retake Connection Speed
Scripting must be enabled
To enable jscript, follow these steps:
Internet Explorer 5
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Set the security to Medium on "Trusted Sites" and click "Apply"
If jscript still doesn't function:
1. Highlight the "Internet" icon and click "Custom Level..."
2. Select "Enable" on all 3 radio buttons under "Scripting"
3. Click "OK"
Internet Explorer 6
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Highlight the "Internet" icon and click "Custom Level..."
4. Select "Enable" on all 3 radio buttons under "Scripting"
Cookies must be enabled
To enable cookies, follow these steps:
Internet Explorer 5
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Security" tab
3. Highlight the "Internet" icon and click "Custom Level..."
4. Select "Enable" on all radio buttons under "Cookies"
5. Click "OK"
Internet Explorer 6
1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu on your browser
2. Click on the "Privacy" tab and press "Advanced..."
3. Check "Override automatic cookie handling"
4. Accept both cookie options and check "Always allow session cookies"
5. Click "OK"
Some people, in comments widely circulated on the Internet, contend that the company's software has been designed to allow voter fraud. Mr. Rubin called such assertions "ludicrous" and said the software's flaws showed the hallmarks of poor design, not subterfuge.
They're not evil, just stupid!