I disagree - probably the only things that would be developed on top of iPod linux would be entirely new apps. Porting things like audio codecs or rewriting a work-alike of Apple's simple UI is trivial in comparison to the task of getting an OS with complete hardware driver support working on a custom embedded system.
It would be simpler to reinvent those things than to try and get Apple's code to run atop Linux (through emulation of Apple's underlying firmware).
The only reason not to GPL it is if you want to make it easier for Apple (or others) to reincorporate your improvements. That might be a good thing depending on your goals. I'd say porting Linux to the hardware is interesting per se, and could yield a groundswell of other OSS support - Apple has bigger fish to fry right now.
Also realize: there are some generally accepted (but not explicit) rules that differentiate "derived" vs "aggregate" works when it comes to GPL. It is unlikely that using a GPL'd OS would preclude higher level apps like phone books from being offered under whatever license the author chooses.
Your site says it supports WMA but the submitter also mentions RA.
WMA definitely; RA "no, but possible". Real's software is quite closed and inextensible (yes, even compared to MSFT), and I don't think there's a solution for this yet. All it would take though is a decoder app, and you could hook it in in five seconds using SlimServer's transcoding logic. Take a look to see specifically which formats are supported.
Generally no, except for free (FLAC) or trivial (WAV/AIFF) encodings, which are built-in.
SlimServer's trick is to take advantage of thrid-party codecs which are installed on your computer. This allows us to support Apple Lossless, for example, by leveraging Quicktime (Windows or Mac). The same goes for WMA. MP3 encoding is automatically enabled if a lame installation is detected.
It's all quite automatic - nearly always, if someone has Apple Lossless or WMA files, then they'll have Quicktime or Windows Media, respectively, installed. So whichever formats you're using will "just work" with SlimServer.
If we wanted to pay Fraunhofer "per anum" then we could distribute Lame, but it's easy enough to install separately.
You might be able to get it to work with the WMLS11B if that device is capable of playing an arbitrary mp3 stream by URL, as SlimServer can convert and rebroadcast streams in various formats.
But if you have the Squeezebox it will work so much better, because it's designed to do all of this, and you can choose the stations (or your own music collection) from the display.
SlimServer is also open source, so it supports just about every file format and radio format in existence. There is a free emulator included, SoftSqueeze, that you can use to try it out.
PS I work for Slim. Mod up if you want me to answer questions in this thread; mod down if you don't care for self-promotion.
This is why you should not use the standard GPL notice. Just remove "or later," and include the specific version of the GPL with your software.
To answer your question, the G in GPL means GNU (don't get me started on the recursion thing) so nobody could reasonably argue that the GPL refers to anything other than the one issued by the GNU foundation.
Is it just me, or does it seem like it would be a better idea to release this thing DURING the Christmas season, rather than directly after it?
These days you release when you're ready, xmas or not.
We used to struggle to release before Christmas, until we figured out that the Christmas rush is about the same, whether you have new product or not. Ironically, nobody releases much in the summer, when electronics sales are slow and they could really use a little boost. I guess they're all at the beach...
This iRiver product is not quite as ridiculous as some of the other "iPod killers" which added video support for "only" 2x the price, size, weight, and power consumption, but why is it a "killer"?
Unless something can beat the iPod on value, the only thing that will kill it is market saturation, plain and simple.
Just think what Ms. Ellsworth could have achieved with a proper education.
MUCH LESS
For the really creative problem solver types like her, school is a dangerous reconditioning of one's mind and social outlook. If you're not suited for it, excessive schooling/socialization can kill both your entrepreneurial spirit and your creative talent.
Listening to Satellite radio is a CHOICE. You can't "accidentally" listen to it. You have to actively and willfully make an attempt to listen to it, and thus the FCC has absolutely NO grounds to censor it.
So your hearing goes up to the FM band but not quite into the 2.3 GHz range?
But there is no inherent reason why computing power can't someday reach the level of the human brain. If Moore's law continues, this is supposed to take under 30 years.
We can't even simulate a spider's intelligence yet. It's not a problem of needing more cycles.
We need to work out how we think, and then try to "seed" this behavior into a machine that can learn. There are lots of interesting ideas out there, but every practical attempt I've seen has either been side-tracked by efforts to build interesting hardware, or too-ambitios attempts to jump stright to full intelligence/learning by taking "shortcuts" where you define behaviors and responses in software.
I expect the solution to emerge by itself once we've modeled some basic life "rules", and set a learning simulation running on them. i.e. start with a very simple 2D "game" in software, where the goal is to pick up randomly scattered food pellets. Pick them up too slowly and you die. Gradually let the methods for food pellet searching evolve itself, using genetic algorithms. Then throw in some competition - make more than one organism active at a time so they have to learn even better alogrithms. Then add elements such as the ability to kill each other- behavior such as alliances may emerge. Then make food appear seasonally, and give them the ability to stockpile it. Gradually keep adding more elements to the simulation, and let the intelligence unfold on its own.
What is absolutely the same in both cases is that the media industries fought the new technology tooth and nail until the some new industry (eg video rental) showed them how to make money - then their position changed 180 degrees.
The only reason there's a fight is because right now we're in that "limbo period" before someone figures out how to make everyone profit on the new technology. It will happen - some will argue that it's happening already because p2p increases interest in music/video and this ultimately yields more sales. Even if that's 100% true it'll take some years for the tards at [MP|RI]AA to accept it.
You can't fight technology. Figure out how to make money with it or STFU.
This thing to realize about software, unlike pretty much any other good you pay for, is that it's "all gross margin". I'm sure Dell groks this despite being a hardware company.
Since your COGS (cost of goods sold) is practically zero (just a CD and a box - maybe a manual) you can price it wherever you want to maximize the product of units sold times ASP. In contrast, hardware is pretty much always priced only 100 to 200% over raw COGS, except at the very high end where volumes are small and development/marketing costs dominate.
Dell is telling Redhat that they might sell, for example, 3x as many units if it were priced 50% lower. That's 50% MORE revenue at the lower price.
If I were Redhat I'd listen carefully. Dell probably knows their market better than they do.
Exactly which substances are "illicit" if we legalize everything? Have you spent more that 10 seconds thinking about this?
Booze and cigs are allowed because we've figured out that people can a) mostly function and b) not disturb their nieghbors while doing this stuff.and c) not promptly kill themselves
The rest of it is ILLICIT because it fucks you up and ruins your life or your neighbors'. We, as voters in a democracy, get to choose what's illicit. Don't you get that?
I realize this thread is stale but I hope you'll reply. I'm honestly curious as to where you're coming from here...
Also, I don't think the framers had to consider crack, meth, coke, and heroin. Don't get me wrong, as a law abider, I love that 4th (and 2nd!) amendment, but I imagine the founding fathers would have written things a bit differently if they'd forseen the horrific things that would happen in private homes after their own time.
it's not a war, just another law-enforcement function
Now you're just arguing the semantics of the word "war".
dictionary.com defines it as anything but brief... actually "often prolonged" and "A concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious: the war against acid rain."
If the seller didn't disclose the "reason" for the discount, you can easily prevail against him (or her) in court -- and his agent as well (especially in California). If you didn't try to find out why the discount was in effect...well, now you know.
So I was advised!
I decided instead to fight the problem and pocket the "discount". If I'd waited or haggled, someone else would have snagged the property - I offered on the first day it was listed. Next time, I will spend some time staking out the property on Friday nights.
Drugs exist. They won't cease existing. Lost this one.
No, we (they?) haven't lost this one. This isn't a war that you just "stop fighting" when you've "won". The drugs will keep fighting to exist, so society has to keep fighting the war forever if society chooses not to have drugs everywhere.
I used to not grok the war on drugs. I've done a few "light" drugs myself and never understood what the big deal was. Last April I thought I was getting a great deal on a house until I found out why the seller had priced it $30K below market - the house next door was infested with dealers and users. Guys doing crazy uppers - out shouting at each other every night at the top of their lungs until 4AM, going "MOTHERFUCKER MOTHERFUCKING UP IN MY SHIT SO I CHOKED THE BITCH OUT" and stupid nonsenese so loud it would shake my (closed, heavy 2-pane) windows. Then there were the fights. Then there were were ODs. That's when I learned real quick why we have a war on drugs. BTW this is in Campbell, CA - not the most expensive homes in the bay area, but certainly not the ghetto!
For months I talked to other neighbors who were all too afriad to give their names when the called the police - they were afraid they'd get shot, or their houses burned down if they complained. I'd call the cops but they always said they couldn't go in on a noise complaint, no matter how many.
So I tracked down the local drug enforcement czar, and he told me what to do. Keep a log, write down license plates, call the cops every time it gets out of hand. So I did, and I gave my name every time I called. It didn't help.
Finally I discovered that public records could point me to the owner of the rented property (the police and the occupants had refused to tell me). I started writing letters and telling the owner everything that happened - turned out the owners were the parents of one of the occupants. They'd given up on parenting and bought their son a house because they couldn't keep him under control and they wouldn't throw him out on the street. Great.
I researched the law and learned about the seizure process and how the owners could lsoe everything by letting it continue, and that neighbors could sue for noise. I bluntly informed them of all this, and finally it looks like the creeps are moving out - 8 months of turmoil later. Finally I have peace and safety.
You will not understand the war on drugs until you've had to fight it yourself. Only then will you see why it's a war that we are going to keep fighting forever as long as we as a society decide we don't want to be around the stuff.
Slashdot Mirror
For as much as they take from FreeBSD, they give nothing back.
Let's not forget high-paying jobs for all those core developers....
And quite a bit of Darwin code that you're free to roll into your own "BSD for PPC" distro.
And the wine, the wine goes without saying.
And the aquaeducts.
But apart from the wine, the medicine, the acqueducts, and the peace, what has Apple done for us?
I mean, my GOD. It's almost like NetBSD. Next thing you know, there'll be Linux vibrators!
Where is this NetBSD vibrator of which you speak? I've always wanted to telnet in and see what's happening down there....
I disagree - probably the only things that would be developed on top of iPod linux would be entirely new apps. Porting things like audio codecs or rewriting a work-alike of Apple's simple UI is trivial in comparison to the task of getting an OS with complete hardware driver support working on a custom embedded system.
It would be simpler to reinvent those things than to try and get Apple's code to run atop Linux (through emulation of Apple's underlying firmware).
The only reason not to GPL it is if you want to make it easier for Apple (or others) to reincorporate your improvements. That might be a good thing depending on your goals. I'd say porting Linux to the hardware is interesting per se, and could yield a groundswell of other OSS support - Apple has bigger fish to fry right now.
Also realize: there are some generally accepted (but not explicit) rules that differentiate "derived" vs "aggregate" works when it comes to GPL. It is unlikely that using a GPL'd OS would preclude higher level apps like phone books from being offered under whatever license the author chooses.
Uh... I think you mean "per annum".
No, it's "per anum". Obviously you haven't seen their fee schedule. Much worse than "through the nose".
Your site says it supports WMA but the submitter also mentions RA.
WMA definitely; RA "no, but possible". Real's software is quite closed and inextensible (yes, even compared to MSFT), and I don't think there's a solution for this yet. All it would take though is a decoder app, and you could hook it in in five seconds using SlimServer's transcoding logic. Take a look to see specifically which formats are supported.
Source code for codecs included?
Generally no, except for free (FLAC) or trivial (WAV/AIFF) encodings, which are built-in.
SlimServer's trick is to take advantage of thrid-party codecs which are installed on your computer. This allows us to support Apple Lossless, for example, by leveraging Quicktime (Windows or Mac). The same goes for WMA. MP3 encoding is automatically enabled if a lame installation is detected.
It's all quite automatic - nearly always, if someone has Apple Lossless or WMA files, then they'll have Quicktime or Windows Media, respectively, installed. So whichever formats you're using will "just work" with SlimServer.
If we wanted to pay Fraunhofer "per anum" then we could distribute Lame, but it's easy enough to install separately.
SlimServer / Squeezebox does precisely what you're asking for.
You might be able to get it to work with the WMLS11B if that device is capable of playing an arbitrary mp3 stream by URL, as SlimServer can convert and rebroadcast streams in
various formats.
But if you have the Squeezebox it will work so much better, because it's designed to do all of this, and you can choose the stations (or your own music collection) from the display.
SlimServer is also open source, so it supports just about every file format and radio format in existence. There is a free emulator included, SoftSqueeze, that you can use to try it
out.
PS I work for Slim. Mod up if you want me to answer questions in this thread; mod down if you don't care for self-promotion.
We're good where it counts.
Where's that? The enl@rjd p3njs?
"grannies and fatties" came up just fine for me....
What kind of perverted obscure stuff are you looking for?
This is why you should not use the standard GPL notice. Just remove "or later," and include the specific version of the GPL with your software.
To answer your question, the G in GPL means GNU (don't get me started on the recursion thing) so nobody could reasonably argue that the GPL refers to anything other than the one issued by the GNU foundation.
Is it just me, or does it seem like it would be a better idea to release this thing DURING the Christmas season, rather than directly after it?
These days you release when you're ready, xmas or not.
We used to struggle to release before Christmas, until we figured out that the Christmas rush is about the same, whether you have new product or not. Ironically, nobody releases much in the summer, when electronics sales are slow and they could really use a little boost. I guess they're all at the beach...
This iRiver product is not quite as ridiculous as some of the other "iPod killers" which added video support for "only" 2x the price, size, weight, and power consumption, but why is it a "killer"?
Unless something can beat the iPod on value, the only thing that will kill it is market saturation, plain and simple.
Just think what Ms. Ellsworth could have achieved with a proper education.
MUCH LESS
For the really creative problem solver types like her, school is a dangerous reconditioning of one's mind and social outlook. If you're not suited for it, excessive schooling/socialization can kill both your entrepreneurial spirit and your creative talent.
It is NOT ironic in the slightest that so many great innovators were drop-outs.
Listening to Satellite radio is a CHOICE. You can't "accidentally" listen to it. You have to actively and willfully make an attempt to listen to it, and thus the FCC has absolutely NO grounds to censor it.
So your hearing goes up to the FM band but not quite into the 2.3 GHz range?
But there is no inherent reason why computing power can't someday reach the level of the human brain. If Moore's law continues, this is supposed to take under 30 years.
We can't even simulate a spider's intelligence yet. It's not a problem of needing more cycles.
We need to work out how we think, and then try to "seed" this behavior into a machine that can learn. There are lots of interesting ideas out there, but every practical attempt I've seen has either been side-tracked by efforts to build interesting hardware, or too-ambitios attempts to jump stright to full intelligence/learning by taking "shortcuts" where you define behaviors and responses in software.
I expect the solution to emerge by itself once we've modeled some basic life "rules", and set a learning simulation running on them. i.e. start with a very simple 2D "game" in software, where the goal is to pick up randomly scattered food pellets. Pick them up too slowly and you die. Gradually let the methods for food pellet searching evolve itself, using genetic algorithms. Then throw in some competition - make more than one organism active at a time so they have to learn even better alogrithms. Then add elements such as the ability to kill each other- behavior such as alliances may emerge. Then make food appear seasonally, and give them the ability to stockpile it. Gradually keep adding more elements to the simulation, and let the intelligence unfold on its own.
What is absolutely the same in both cases is that the media industries fought the new technology tooth and nail until the some new industry (eg video rental) showed them how to make money - then their position changed 180 degrees.
The only reason there's a fight is because right now we're in that "limbo period" before someone figures out how to make everyone profit on the new technology. It will happen - some will argue that it's happening already because p2p increases interest in music/video and this ultimately yields more sales. Even if that's 100% true it'll take some years for the tards at [MP|RI]AA to accept it.
You can't fight technology. Figure out how to make money with it or STFU.
The floating images will be of loons, an enduring symbol of the state.
I thought that was California?!?!
Look up "gross margin" and contrast "net profit"
You totally missed my point. Software costs almost nothing to "manufacture". It is information.
Yes there are support costs that you factor in but r&d is definitely not part of your "cost of goods".
This thing to realize about software, unlike pretty much any other good you pay for, is that it's "all gross margin". I'm sure Dell groks this despite being a hardware company.
Since your COGS (cost of goods sold) is practically zero (just a CD and a box - maybe a manual) you can price it wherever you want to maximize the product of units sold times ASP. In contrast, hardware is pretty much always priced only 100 to 200% over raw COGS, except at the very high end where volumes are small and development/marketing costs dominate.
Dell is telling Redhat that they might sell, for example, 3x as many units if it were priced 50% lower. That's 50% MORE revenue at the lower price.
If I were Redhat I'd listen carefully. Dell probably knows their market better than they do.
Why not just use RIAA math and fine them $ 250 000 per sold ram stick?
I think it was DDR. Make that $500K.
illicit substances
Exactly which substances are "illicit" if we legalize everything? Have you spent more that 10 seconds thinking about this?
Booze and cigs are allowed because we've figured out that people can a) mostly function and b) not disturb their nieghbors while doing this stuff.and c) not promptly kill themselves
The rest of it is ILLICIT because it fucks you up and ruins your life or your neighbors'. We, as voters in a democracy, get to choose what's illicit. Don't you get that?
I realize this thread is stale but I hope you'll reply. I'm honestly curious as to where you're coming from here...
Also, I don't think the framers had to consider crack, meth, coke, and heroin. Don't get me wrong, as a law abider, I love that 4th (and 2nd!) amendment, but I imagine the founding fathers would have written things a bit differently if they'd forseen the horrific things that would happen in private homes after their own time.
it's not a war, just another law-enforcement function
Now you're just arguing the semantics of the word "war".
dictionary.com defines it as anything but brief... actually "often prolonged" and "A concerted effort or campaign to combat or put an end to something considered injurious: the war against acid rain."
If the seller didn't disclose the "reason" for the discount, you can easily prevail against him (or her) in court -- and his agent as well (especially in California). If you didn't try to find out why the discount was in effect...well, now you know.
So I was advised!
I decided instead to fight the problem and pocket the "discount". If I'd waited or haggled, someone else would have snagged the property - I offered on the first day it was listed. Next time, I will spend some time staking out the property on Friday nights.
Gotta love California - or not.
Drugs exist. They won't cease existing. Lost this one.
No, we (they?) haven't lost this one. This isn't a war that you just "stop fighting" when you've "won". The drugs will keep fighting to exist, so society has to keep fighting the war forever if society chooses not to have drugs everywhere.
I used to not grok the war on drugs. I've done a few "light" drugs myself and never understood what the big deal was. Last April I thought I was getting a great deal on a house until I found out why the seller had priced it $30K below market - the house next door was infested with dealers and users. Guys doing crazy uppers - out shouting at each other every night at the top of their lungs until 4AM, going "MOTHERFUCKER MOTHERFUCKING UP IN MY SHIT SO I CHOKED THE BITCH OUT" and stupid nonsenese so loud it would shake my (closed, heavy 2-pane) windows. Then there were the fights. Then there were were ODs. That's when I learned real quick why we have a war on drugs. BTW this is in Campbell, CA - not the most expensive homes in the bay area, but certainly not the ghetto!
For months I talked to other neighbors who were all too afriad to give their names when the called the police - they were afraid they'd get shot, or their houses burned down if they complained. I'd call the cops but they always said they couldn't go in on a noise complaint, no matter how many.
So I tracked down the local drug enforcement czar, and he told me what to do. Keep a log, write down license plates, call the cops every time it gets out of hand. So I did, and I gave my name every time I called. It didn't help.
Finally I discovered that public records could point me to the owner of the rented property (the police and the occupants had refused to tell me). I started writing letters and telling the owner everything that happened - turned out the owners were the parents of one of the occupants. They'd given up on parenting and bought their son a house because they couldn't keep him under control and they wouldn't throw him out on the street. Great.
I researched the law and learned about the seizure process and how the owners could lsoe everything by letting it continue, and that neighbors could sue for noise. I bluntly informed them of all this, and finally it looks like the creeps are moving out - 8 months of turmoil later. Finally I have peace and safety.
You will not understand the war on drugs until you've had to fight it yourself. Only then will you see why it's a war that we are going to keep fighting forever as long as we as a society decide we don't want to be around the stuff.