Wrong! The specifications are one thing, but once you make code that uses it, you will have to follow Microsoft's licensing scheme, since they claim that their XML Office Schema is patented. Here is the link to that:
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/format/xmlpat en tlicense.asp
The link on this page that references the actual details gives a 404, but I would bet that it only allows their schema to be used by closed source products. You can bet that GPL or BSD code will simply never be able to receive a license. The minute there is a Linux distro that can handle MS Office products with Open Source/Free Software, there will be a patent violation suit filed.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, because I hope that I am.
Actually, yes. It is the government's job to make sure that ALL monopolistic utilities are non-profit. This means water, sewer, phone, cable, whatever.
If there is competition, then profit is OK. If it is a monopoly, then profit should not be allowed.
Hopefully, in the long run, this will be a way to keep Qwest out of the local internet business. Utopia could allow small local ISP's to use their fiber to provide internet service. Utopia would only manage the local connections.
This would be similar to phone service, where ultra-high speed local access would be cheap, but access to the rest of the 'net would require the consumer's choice of ISPs (just like a long distance company). With today's managed switching, this should be possible. It would also open up a new market for local content providers.
I moved here 3.5 years ago. There certainly is a bit of culture shock, but it is really not so bad. I can understand how a 21-year-old party animal might find it boring, though, but even that isn't such a problem once you meet some people.
No but I would love to get an old model 80 for nostalgia's sake. I think I have a model 70 here somewhere. I used to carry mine around in the trunk of my car, that handle on the top was really nice.
Yeah, Model M is the ultimate, I also have one that says Copyright 1984 on the back, part #51G8572. My spare is from the early 90's but has the same feel.
The only way to push a new system like this, especially if it costs as much as renting DVD's, would be if it supported HDTV. Disney movies, especially Pixar, look GREAT at 720p. Unfortunately it is impossible to get HDTV content on demand. I would pay for this system if it did HDTV, otherwise no way.
I'm a bigger Linux advocate than anyone, but this conclusion is wrong. There are plenty of vulnerabilities in end-user Linux applications; but there are two factors that resist worm/virus developers:
1) Fewer users 2) Heterogenous environments
Don't worry, when Linux takes over it will have its fair share of viruses. The Mac was the first seriously virus-prone platform, perhaps the Amiga was up there too back in the day.
I have one of these and it is basically as advertised. I use it to capture streams on Linux, though I still play them back on my Windows-based card which has component video support.
However, the xine patches work OK.
It is still a hacker's delight, though, and will continue to be until all of the modifications make it into the xine and v4l trees; and into at least the Debian Unstable package system. The software works, but takes some effort to get installed and running.
I am quite satisfied with my purchase!!! Everyone who supports Linux should buy one, if only to support the business model.
"Freedom" in software includes the freedom to download and use it without contributing anything. I thought the point of free software was that you could do whatever you wanted with it.
There is a company called SimpleCare that offers HMO-sized discounts on medical procedures if you agree to pay the full cost when you visit. It's only $20 a year for this service.
Here is an article about it: http://www.reason.com/rb/rb052803.shtml
Make sure to get a high deductible catastrophic policy to go with it, in case of a serious problem.
> Even with that said, how many of you will > actually be listening to your FLAC encoded audio > in a proper listening environment with a > properly laid out, quality audio setup?
They are called "Compact Discs". Flac is CD quality, so you burn them to CD and listen to them on your home theater or whatever. I also encode to MP3 for the car.
> who else would *complain* about the previous > audio format on the Phish site.
People who have been using it for many years and don't see a reason to switch would complain about the new one. The old format didn't have ID3 tags, and couldn't do 24 bit. Whether or not the Phish folks will take advantage of this is another question.
> The same people who insist that vinyl has higher > fidelity than CD
Your other complaints are accurate but this one is off. The question is whether it is worth it to go through the pain to get a slightly better sound.
> Audiophilia. It's a disease. Kill it before it > spreads.
I think it is even more important for live recordings to have high quality. The ambience from the venue combined with the audience noise are very difficult for MP3 etc to handle nicely. For soundboard recordings it is not quite as important.
Part of the job description of police is to be in danger, and in the line of fire. Why would a policeman's life be any more valuable than a normal person's?
Slashdot Mirror
Wrong! The specifications are one thing, but once
you make code that uses it, you will have to
follow Microsoft's licensing scheme, since they
claim that their XML Office Schema is patented.
Here is the link to that:
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/ip/format/xmlpa
The link on this page that references the actual
details gives a 404, but I would bet that it only
allows their schema to be used by closed source
products. You can bet that GPL or BSD code will
simply never be able to receive a license. The
minute there is a Linux distro that can handle
MS Office products with Open Source/Free Software,
there will be a patent violation suit filed.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, because I hope
that I am.
Actually, yes. It is the government's job to make
sure that ALL monopolistic utilities are
non-profit. This means water, sewer, phone,
cable, whatever.
If there is competition, then profit is OK. If it
is a monopoly, then profit should not be allowed.
Hopefully, in the long run, this will be a way to
keep Qwest out of the local internet business.
Utopia could allow small local ISP's to use their
fiber to provide internet service. Utopia would
only manage the local connections.
This would be similar to phone service, where
ultra-high speed local access would be cheap,
but access to the rest of the 'net would require
the consumer's choice of ISPs (just like a long
distance company). With today's managed
switching, this should be possible. It would
also open up a new market for local content
providers.
I moved here 3.5 years ago. There certainly is a
bit of culture shock, but it is really not so bad.
I can understand how a 21-year-old party animal
might find it boring, though, but even that isn't
such a problem once you meet some people.
How many bluetooth devices are actually used each
week? I have several but they are collecting dust.
No but I would love to get an old model 80 for
nostalgia's sake. I think I have a model 70 here
somewhere. I used to carry mine around in the trunk
of my car, that handle on the top was really nice.
Yeah, Model M is the ultimate, I also have one that
says Copyright 1984 on the back, part #51G8572. My
spare is from the early 90's but has the same feel.
The only way to push a new system like this, especially if it costs as much as renting DVD's,
would be if it supported HDTV. Disney movies,
especially Pixar, look GREAT at 720p. Unfortunately
it is impossible to get HDTV content on demand. I
would pay for this system if it did HDTV, otherwise
no way.
I'm a bigger Linux advocate than anyone, but this
conclusion is wrong. There are plenty of
vulnerabilities in end-user Linux applications;
but there are two factors that resist worm/virus
developers:
1) Fewer users
2) Heterogenous environments
Don't worry, when Linux takes over it will have
its fair share of viruses. The Mac was the first
seriously virus-prone platform, perhaps the Amiga
was up there too back in the day.
You can download the contents of the CDROM from
their web site. It includes full GPL source for
the driver and Xine.
Research first, then post your inane complaints.
I have one of these and it is basically as
advertised. I use it to capture streams on Linux,
though I still play them back on my Windows-based
card which has component video support.
However, the xine patches work OK.
It is still a hacker's delight, though, and will
continue to be until all of the modifications
make it into the xine and v4l trees; and into at
least the Debian Unstable package system. The
software works, but takes some effort to get
installed and running.
I am quite satisfied with my purchase!!! Everyone
who supports Linux should buy one, if only to
support the business model.
Mark
Yes, they are 100% completely GPL, it looks like a
basic modification of the standard bttv driver.
You can download a copy of the whole CDROM from
their site and check for yourself.
Mark
Why not get a DirecTivo and DirecTV?
Mark
"Freedom" in software includes the freedom to
download and use it without contributing anything.
I thought the point of free software was that you
could do whatever you wanted with it.
Won't the NEWCARD standard be old in a couple of
years?
Let's get the system implemented first, and then
we can fight over whether the surcharge is too
great.
They should have done this with UnixWare right
away. But better late than never.
There is a company called SimpleCare that offers
HMO-sized discounts on medical procedures if you
agree to pay the full cost when you visit. It's
only $20 a year for this service.
Here is an article about it:
http://www.reason.com/rb/rb052803.shtml
Make sure to get a high deductible catastrophic
policy to go with it, in case of a serious problem.
It's in Akron, OH
Windows articles are supposed to be irrelevant on Slashdot. CmdrTaco has sunk to a new low here... we expect this B.S. from Hemos but not from Rob.
What is the point of your whole rant.
> Even with that said, how many of you will
> actually be listening to your FLAC encoded audio
> in a proper listening environment with a
> properly laid out, quality audio setup?
They are called "Compact Discs". Flac is CD
quality, so you burn them to CD and listen to
them on your home theater or whatever. I also
encode to MP3 for the car.
Mark
> who else would *complain* about the previous
> audio format on the Phish site.
People who have been using it for many years and
don't see a reason to switch would complain about
the new one. The old format didn't have ID3 tags,
and couldn't do 24 bit. Whether or not the Phish
folks will take advantage of this is another
question.
> The same people who insist that vinyl has higher
> fidelity than CD
Your other complaints are accurate but this one
is off. The question is whether it is worth it
to go through the pain to get a slightly better
sound.
> Audiophilia. It's a disease. Kill it before it
> spreads.
No doubt about that.
I think it is even more important for live
recordings to have high quality. The ambience
from the venue combined with the audience noise
are very difficult for MP3 etc to handle nicely.
For soundboard recordings it is not quite as
important.
Thanks to all those who helped prevent this law
from happening.
Part of the job description of police is to be in
danger, and in the line of fire. Why would a
policeman's life be any more valuable than a
normal person's?
These guys are supposed to be Linux-friendly; yet
their web site is useless! Come on, guys