"Docking Station" (the Dock) is NOT like the Start menu in windows and NOT like the task bar ar the bottom either.
I haven't used a mac, so I can't compare, but everything you describe either sounds exactly like the taskbar, or can be done on the taskbar even if it would not normally be done there.
It is a place where you can put applications you often run, so they are easily accessed
drag application to the taskbar. It creates a quicklaunch shortcut.
as well as applications that are running, to easily switch between
Open applications automatically create their own button on the taskbar for you to easily switch between them.
as well as open or closed documents you may be working on and even file folders
This is not a typical usage of the taskbar (windows users use the much larger desktop for that purpose), but is actually also possible. Quicklaunch is a folder like any other. You can drag and drop whatever you want to there. It creates a shortcut by default, but if you hold the shift key, you can move stuff there.
and finally, the trash can.
If you create a shortcut to the "recycle bin" on the quicklaunch part of the taskbar, you can drag and drop files into it (although why you would want to is obviously open to question).
That's why they call it the Dock, you can just "dock" things there.
As I said, I haven't used a mac, so maybe there is something magical about it (besides perhaps not creating shortcuts by default) that I am missing, but there is nothing you described that is not doable with the taskbar alone (even though it's generally done with a taskbar + desktop combination).
Then, the article clearly goes on to say that this is a empty plastic shell, designed merely to inspire Intel's partners, not an example of any upcoming Intel product. I guess that doesn't sound as exciting and inflamatory, though.
They could have just shown them a mac mini. Surely a functional competitor is more likely to inspire a manufacturer than an empty box. After all, product concept mockups are a dime a dozen.
Well, you can download the Microsoft command line C++ compiler for free. There are plenty of open source IDE's of assorted quality out there.
You can (or could, I don't know about now) also get a version of Visual studio with a crippled compiler free with some books. Then you just change the internal tool paths to point to the command line compiler.
The reason is that if they are somehow able to hold down a job at another company, they are (percieved as) more likely to be easy to work with, and competent at their job. It's less of a risk overall. Why would you hire somebody that nobody else will? (I know this is all harsh generalization, but many people will think that way).
What good is open source software if you need to purchase a patent licence to use it?
Have you tried to produce a clone of a Dyson cleaner recently, or even something that re-uses the same technology for a different purpose? Better have your patent defense lawyers handy if you did.
Re:Yet Another Metaphor About Carpenters
on
The Code Is The Design
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· Score: 2, Insightful
The whole point about software is that the "carpenter" is supposed to be automated. If the design is complete there is no need for manual translation of the design to the code. Unfortunately it's often far from complete, making many design documents a)next to useless, b)out of date the instant coding begins. That's what stuff like UML tools are trying (and largely failing miserably) to solve.
The Japanese forces in Iraq are there in a self-defense capacity.
Talk about redefinition of language. What did Iraq ever do to Japan that could possibly provoke them to send troops in "self defence".
The Japanese could be there for any number of reasons "enforcing the UN resolution", "George Bush asked us to go there, and we do whatever he asks", "the militarists want to get past the whole 'self defence force' sham and have a real army", etc..., but "self defense" is not one of the reasons for them being there.
It'll be interesting to see how wars are conducted when both populations exist in an inhospitable wasteland that can't support their existance for more than 30 seconds without critical and easily-targeted infrastructure.
Looking at those screenshots, one thing bugs me. Can't they do some anti-aliasing on the rounded corners of the windows? Those jagged edges don't look nice at all. Also the "X" button looks too big, and is too pointy for the rounded corners. Win XP has knocked the points off the 3 window control buttons, and it looks like a better match. The theme itself is ok, if a bit on the dull side.
However, the average student would not devote nearly as much time to learning.
Perhaps they can see that there is nothing in it for them, and they would rather learn about the real world instead of being incarcerated against their will during the daytime?
The "education system" is an invention of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was introduced largely at the behest of industrialists. (FYI it has had a negative effect on American literacy rates)
You can include real science in that list too. Most of highschool science is just historical narrative disguised as science. How many people who complete science in highschool have any idea of what the scientific method is? How they can use it themselves to understand just about anything?
Education does not produce thoughtful and contemplative adults. You can force kids to read Shakespeare all you like, but most of them will still prefer Big Brother and Jerry Springer.
You misspelled "schooling". How does forced attendance at an often violent dysfunctional institution constitute education in any society? Compulsory schooling has led to a (significantly) less literate population than was the case prior to its introduction.
As a professional you have a responsibility to the company you work for to make your development process as reliable as possible. If "screaming for new features every release" is throwing your development into chaos, then you don't have a good system. If you can't display a measure of the impact on the codebase of those new features, you have no justification for the any delays caused by them. If you can't show daily measurement of the maturity of the code, how can anybody make a decision about schedules, resources, or when to ship? It'll all be just wild ass guesswork, and you'll suffer as a result.
The unfortunate thing about software development that I've found is that the so called "quality systems" (ISO 9001, CMM, etc..) do nothing to improve the quality of anything that goes on. You have to do it at a lower level than a bunch of documents, and that means build and test automation, document automation, regular release cycles, etc... Anything that has to be done by hand is a waste of time. If it's not automated it's close to worthless. Any "quality engineer" who defines a process for a company should be obliged to supply a tool for automating it.
So what you are telling me is that a guy that already has one hugely successful intertwined music device and digital music content sales system up and running would be unable to get anything done at all for a different type electronic content?
I've been watching you, Ne^H^H Boohiss, and I want to meet you. I don't know if you're ready to see what I want to show you, but unfortunately, we have run out of time. They're coming for you, Boohiss. And I'm not sure what they're going to do.
3) Sue lots of small companies who won't bother contesting it very much so as to build up your warchest to "ensure you can pay at least as much for your lawyers as the big company you sued." 4) Profit
I think the answer may at least partly be that the "advertisers" are not the ones behind this, but rather the advertising distributors, people who get paid per page-view, per-click, etc... They don't care if you hate the company or not, so long as a certain percentage of people do the clicky clicky thing that's expected of them.
And it's a research area because it's interesting, and it hasn't been solved to satisfaction, or even close yet. I think you'll find most "research areas" are like that.
Slashdot Mirror
Well, you can download the Microsoft command line C++ compiler for free. There are plenty of open source IDE's of assorted quality out there.
You can (or could, I don't know about now) also get a version of Visual studio with a crippled compiler free with some books. Then you just change the internal tool paths to point to the command line compiler.
Noone would care ... because they would be useless? That said, Tu-Ka to the rescue for all you luddites...
Seriously, you should leave long before you start to feel ill.
The reason is that if they are somehow able to hold down a job at another company, they are (percieved as) more likely to be easy to work with, and competent at their job. It's less of a risk overall. Why would you hire somebody that nobody else will? (I know this is all harsh generalization, but many people will think that way).
Try doing it in Linux without any of the GNU userland.
Like it or not, unix-alike tools for windows are available from a variety of sources.
What good is open source software if you need to purchase a patent licence to use it?
Have you tried to produce a clone of a Dyson cleaner recently, or even something that re-uses the same technology for a different purpose? Better have your patent defense lawyers handy if you did.
The whole point about software is that the "carpenter" is supposed to be automated. If the design is complete there is no need for manual translation of the design to the code. Unfortunately it's often far from complete, making many design documents a)next to useless, b)out of date the instant coding begins. That's what stuff like UML tools are trying (and largely failing miserably) to solve.
The Japanese could be there for any number of reasons "enforcing the UN resolution", "George Bush asked us to go there, and we do whatever he asks", "the militarists want to get past the whole 'self defence force' sham and have a real army", etc..., but "self defense" is not one of the reasons for them being there.
Looking at those screenshots, one thing bugs me. Can't they do some anti-aliasing on the rounded corners of the windows? Those jagged edges don't look nice at all. Also the "X" button looks too big, and is too pointy for the rounded corners. Win XP has knocked the points off the 3 window control buttons, and it looks like a better match. The theme itself is ok, if a bit on the dull side.
And, can you tell me who asked those students whether they wanted to attend school until they were 18? Or perhaps, were they forced to be there?
The "education system" is an invention of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was introduced largely at the behest of industrialists. (FYI it has had a negative effect on American literacy rates)
You can include real science in that list too. Most of highschool science is just historical narrative disguised as science. How many people who complete science in highschool have any idea of what the scientific method is? How they can use it themselves to understand just about anything?
As a professional you have a responsibility to the company you work for to make your development process as reliable as possible. If "screaming for new features every release" is throwing your development into chaos, then you don't have a good system. If you can't display a measure of the impact on the codebase of those new features, you have no justification for the any delays caused by them. If you can't show daily measurement of the maturity of the code, how can anybody make a decision about schedules, resources, or when to ship? It'll all be just wild ass guesswork, and you'll suffer as a result.
The unfortunate thing about software development that I've found is that the so called "quality systems" (ISO 9001, CMM, etc..) do nothing to improve the quality of anything that goes on. You have to do it at a lower level than a bunch of documents, and that means build and test automation, document automation, regular release cycles, etc... Anything that has to be done by hand is a waste of time. If it's not automated it's close to worthless. Any "quality engineer" who defines a process for a company should be obliged to supply a tool for automating it.
So what you are telling me is that a guy that already has one hugely successful intertwined music device and digital music content sales system up and running would be unable to get anything done at all for a different type electronic content?
Some of us have principles that preclude worshipping some egomaniac, real or imaginary.
I've been watching you, Ne^H^H Boohiss, and I want to meet you. I don't know if you're ready to see what I want to show you, but unfortunately, we have run out of time. They're coming for you, Boohiss. And I'm not sure what they're going to do.
3) Sue lots of small companies who won't bother contesting it very much so as to build up your warchest to "ensure you can pay at least as much for your lawyers as the big company you sued."
4) Profit
I think the answer may at least partly be that the "advertisers" are not the ones behind this, but rather the advertising distributors, people who get paid per page-view, per-click, etc... They don't care if you hate the company or not, so long as a certain percentage of people do the clicky clicky thing that's expected of them.
And it's a research area because it's interesting, and it hasn't been solved to satisfaction, or even close yet. I think you'll find most "research areas" are like that.