Back when the SR71 Blackbird, U2 Spyplane, B2 Bomber, F117 Nighthawk and other "secret" aircraft were being developed out at Groom Lake, no-one outside of the military knew about them. Therefore, anyone non-military seeing one flying overhead near Area 51 would be able to legitimatly claim that they saw an Unidentified Flying Object. I wouldnt be surprised if the US Air Force is testing (or planning to test) the next "black" aircraft out at Groom Lake. (I saw a documentary somewhere about a "secret" triangular aircraft supposedly called the Aurora)
I would imagine that the new features are broken down into: Runtime/VM changes & support Class Library additions & changes Compiler & language chages
Presumably the most important thing for Mono is to support the first one (including any new stuff added to the bytecodes and such) and the essential parts of the second one.
And that is where WINE comes in. The people behind Mono and the WINE people should work together so that Mono will use WINE for any PInvoke (either standard win32 APIs or something custom that comes with the.NET app) and hence the WINE implementation of COM & OLE for any ActiveX controls or COM interop. If the item being used (e.g. the API call being PInvoked) is a standard windows item, then the.NET app will run on any system that has a usable port of WINE and Mono on it. If it is a non standard item for which source code is available, again, it could be ported and run via WINE or WineLib somehow. (or if its closed source but documented, it could be cloned somehow) Even if the item being used is a closed source propriatory item for which there is no possible clone or use on non x86 platforms, Mono with WINE could still be used to run the whole thing on x86 linux
The question is whether the WINE people are prepared to do what is necessary to allow Mono to use WINE for the bits it needs (including PInvoke, COM and the talked-about implementation of System.Windows.Forms which has to go on top of something looking like user32 so that all the support is there)
If google can do DRM that is as liberal as apples DRM, people will love them for it. Are these TV show downloads google are doing tiny size like the apple video ipod downloads or are they something one could watch on a TV or computer monitor?
In no particular order, here are my top 10 open source projects: 1.The Apache web server (STILL the most popular web server in the world today and consistantly more secure than Microsoft IIS) 2.The Mozilla/Firefox web browser and the Gecko rendering engine (The growing popularity of Gecko based browsers has forced even microsoft to take notice) 3.The OpenOffice office suite (IMO the biggest threat to the total dominance of Microsoft Office since WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3) 4.The Linux kernel (Without this, we would still be waiting for HURD) 5.ReactOS (once its mature enough, people for whom their only microsoft product is Windows can become microsoft free) 6.The GNU Compiler Collection (For many platforms, this is the only compiler and for many others, it is the only free compiler sitting alongside a for-pay manufacturer provided compiler) 7.GIMP (Some people DO need all the power and features of Photoshop but for everyone else, GIMP is a great alternative) 8.PHP (together with MySQL, it has provided most of the features of propriatory technologies like ASP and JSP without the huge price tag) 9.OGG Vorbis/OGG Theora (with the Vorbis codec providing a truely FREE audio codec and the Theora video codec promising to do the same for video, the Xiph foundation is reaching the goal of providing a patent free way to implement audio and video into software products) and 10.SourceForge (SourceForge is the worlds largest collection of open source software and provides a place for developers to host open source software of any size with site features like multiple download mirrors and fully functional CVS server that would cost big $$$ just about anywhere else)
Microsoft needs to buy some companies who are making and selling the kind of games that are popular in japan. Most of those companies are either loyal to Sony or are platform neutral. If microsoft could buy up some japanese developers and make their games 360 exclusive, japanese gamers (especially fans of whatever games/companies are now 360 exclusive) would start buying.
In australia, for example, The Nine Network has the rights to CSI and Survivor through a deal with CBS. Part of that deal is gaurantees that the content wont be available on video formats in australia untill after the production or after the first australian airing (at least thats what I assume would be there).
If CBS were to allow google video to release these to australia before Nine has aired them (which is what people would be looking for), Nine would have grounds to sue CBS for breach of contract (I suspect).
Basicly, you go up to the computer and fill it all in. The computer then prints out a ballot containing a human readable vote and a machine readable barcode. Then, the ballot (assuming the voter aggrees with it) puts it into a sealed ballot box. To count the votes, the barcodes can be run through a barcode scanner. If necessary, a hand count could be performed. This could be done either with or without a direct count made by the poling station computer.
Another option would be to just do what we have in australia and use a paper ballot where you mark the boxes for the people you want (in our case, you indicate who you wnat to put as first preference, second preference etc etc) Simple and no chance that the computer got it wrong.
Here are some things I personally would like to see (some of which have been mentioned elsewhere as possible inclusions). Not all of them are 100% appropriate for something like C++ and the C++ standard library but all of them are things that seem (to me) to be usefull things to have as compiler and library provided functionality.
language provided thread support. This would need to provide the following (at least): 1.Proper thread safety at the language level (including mandates that the standard library is thread safe) 2.Thread-local storage (i.e. a way to say "this variable is local to this thread") 3.A way to say "this block of code should only be accessed by one thread at once" or "this variable should only be accessed by one thread at once" (something like a critical section on win32 I guess) Plus of course ways to create threads and such.
Complete compatibility with C99 (i.e. any valid C99 program is also a valid C++0x program and will compile and run)
something similar to (and compatible with) fstream/ifstream/ofstream except that it reads from a block of memory instead of a disk file
A nice sane cross-platform way to detect memory leaks (i.e. the compiler implements the standards-specific memory leak detection in the implementation of new and delete and then the progammer would enable it e.g. with a new #paragma or something. (this goes with the garbage collector idea mentioned elsewhere)
Complete unicode support throughout the C++ language and standard library (although I think this is already mostly there)
New classes or functions (e.g. a new string class and new/improved collection classes) designed such that they help prevent or miinimize buffer overflows and memory corruption and the resulting effects (sort of like how compiler vendors like microsoft have started to add "safe" string functions only standardized)
Standardized definitions for constants like pi (plus more math functions as standard)
A standard library to do data compression and uncompression (perhaps an implementation of what is defined in RFC 1950, RFC 1951 and RFC 1952 i.e. the algorithim and format used in gzip, pkzip and zlib would be appropriate). Further to this, a new fstream/ifstream/ofstream derivitive that will compress data when writen out and uncompress it when read back in (without the programmer having to do anything).
I like the idea for a standard library way to do directory and file manipulation and the idea for a standard sockets library although (like the compression idea I have above), I do wonder if they are really appropriate for C++ or if they are better provided by third party libraries.
If the RIAA followed the letter of the law, maybe they wouldnt cop so much flack for all their lawsuits.
They would have actual evidence that machine x was serving file y (and that file y IS actually something they hold the copyright to) at time z which would be presented to the ISP (who could take whatever action is appropriate, either handing over the information or telling the RIAA to get a court order which would be much easier if they have proof of the flie sharing)
As for the issue with kids loading p2p apps like bearshare and such, maybe ISPs need to offer a service to customers where (with customer approval), the customers accounts can be locked so that p2p apps wont run on them. (which would mean that parents could tell the ISPs to lock that out and stop their kids doing this stuff). This would work in the same way as the telcos who offer call barring that lets you prevent access to premium rate numbers (900 numbers etc)
One thing to remember is that spacecraft do not have to land at the same spaceport they took off from. The use of suborbital flights (like what SpaceShipOne was able to do and what Virgin Galactic plans to do) as a way to get from A to B much faster than a normal airplane is something that boffins and scientists and space gurus are already talking about and drawing up plans for. In that circumstance, all the rules that apply to a normal airplane flight (such as passport requirements, no-fly lists etc) will need to be applied to the spacefights.
Here are 4 technologies that are always seen as "just around the corner" but which I predict wont make much progress in 2006. 1.Flying cars. Not because the technology isnt up to par but because of the difficulty of dealing with the huge regluatory hurdles.
Right now, there are laws limiting where VTOL vehicles (which would include flying cars and also includes helicoptors) can take off and land. If flying cars were introduced, you would need to completly re-write the rulebook when it comes to aviation, flight paths, places you are allowed to take off and land from etc.
2.Video downloading services offering content you can watch on your TV. (as opposed to content you can watch on a mobile phone or video ipod etc) Firstly, the TV operators (pay and Free-To-Air) do not want competition from "Internet Television" (be it true IPTV running as an actual stream you download or be it something you buy and watch later) and will pressure the content providers (a number of who have investments in cable/satelite/FTA TV) not to expand in this area (just look at what the TV networks did when ABC offered its shows on the iTunes store). Remember that several cable companies are starting to offer video-on-demand and would see internet downloading as a direct competitor to that.
And secondly, the bandwidth required to download full-size movies and TV shows is huge (especially if compressed at a rate that doesnt sacrifice the quality too much and makes them worth spending the $$$ on vs buying the DVD) so many (normal) people (especially people on ISP plans that limit their monthly transfer allowance) are not going to want to download large files like that.
The other problem is how to get the content from the PC where it was purchased and downloaded into something you can watch on your TV. Burning to DVD is not an option (not everyone has the time, skills or gear to burn a DVD and in any case, there is no copy protection method that can be applied to burnt DVDs AFAIK) and the other option (having your computer send the video to a box connected to your TV) is out too because the boxes just arent available (and there is no standards between boxes that do exist as far as what formats they accept or what, if any, copy protection they support)
3.Stem Cells and related technology. (including such things as cloning body parts) There are too many people opposed to this sort of technology (including, I believe, George W Bush to some extent) and too many people worried about the negative effects (e.g. cloned babies) for this to advance out of the lab anytime soon.
4.Online & home delivered groceries. There is some movement towards this idea but no-one has been able to make it work yet. In the vision of the future, you would just scan the barcode on something you want and it would record the item. Then, this combined with other items (items you dont have to scan or items that dont have barcodes like fruit etc) would be placed online and the items would be delivered directly to you.
I am sure there is a big market out there from people wanting to be able to buy all their food etc online. Even better would be if the online supermarkets could combine with a store like K-Mart, Target or Big W (here in australia, Coles Myer owns K-Mart, Target and Coles Supermarkets and Woolworths owns Woolworths supermarkets and Big W) so you could have all sorts of variety goods delivered in the same order. Also, combine this with the alcohol sales too and you have a perfect item. (both Coles Myer and Woolworths own bottle shop chains)
But even where you can buy online, the range and price dont compare favorably to the bricks & mortar stores and its only available to a limited area. (I have no idea if other parts of the world like europe and america are any better).
As to why I dont think we will see any forward movement with this in 2006, I think it is because in order for this to really take off, the interface has to be dead simple to use. And it needs to be accessable where the food is
Basicly, in order to win in court, they have to prove (IIRC) that the machine owned by the defendant was serving a file AND that the file is something they hold copyright to.
Whereas, to extract a settlement, all they need is enough to suggest that the defendant was sharing SOMETHING and the defendant will probobly pay up (especially if they do actually have illegal audio files somewhere, be they the files that the RIAA mentions in the lawsuit or otherwise).
The burden of proof is much less for the "convice the ISP to hand over the data without a warrent or court order then hit them with a lawsuit" option than for the "go to court and file a john doe case to get the details of the person who owns the machine that was supposedly sharing copyrighted files" option. Which is why the RIAA & friends want new laws around the globe forcing ISPs to hand over logs and data without warrants. (anyone who is elegable to vote in the relavent countries, please vote for people who do NOT supporting such nasty laws, I know I did in the last australian election)
IE (as seen in current windows) is just an exe file that loads shdocvw.dll and mshtml.dll to do HTML rendering. (and uses other dlls like wininet.dll and co to talk to the internet).
Now, if you wanted to talk about replacing the microsoft HTML rendering engine (mshtml.dll & friends), thats different. But, you would need to make it 100% API compatible AND it would need to support all the things that apps need in order to work (including every HTML help file out there). Just look at how hard it is for the WINE team to get mshtml.dll and shdocvw.dll to work right:)
Here in australia we just have one federal GST that applies to most things (except basics like basic food and some other things) plus a few wierd extra taxes here and there (like a tax on luxury cars and taxes/excise on petrol, alcohol and tobacco) The states each get a chunk of the GST revenues with the federal government getting money from other taxes (including income tax and company tax).
The states do not have either an income tax or a consumption tax.
The ironic thing about the betamax case was that the same Sony that fought Universal over betamax and won an important precedent for fair use is now trying to get laws passed that undo that very precedent.
Including (either as a free download/upgrade or a cheap purchase from XBOX live) a media player that can play the same formats as windows media player (and can do it from a windows file share) would be a great thing for microsoft and would sell more 360s (I am sure there are lots of people that would love some kind of "media player" for their home entertainment systems especially if it was reasonably cheap (and in this case it can do games too) and could play media from their PCs.
Heck, if there was a way to add video inputs to it, microsoft could turn it into a PVR too (although they would need to come out with a bigger hard disk for that to work:)
Just build a device with an FPGA, a way to program the FPGA plus a pair of HDMI cables with all data going through the FPGA.
Sell the FPGA unprogrammed. Or better yet, come up with some legitimate use for it (i.e. something you could do by processing a HDMI/DVI signal that doesnt involve breaking DRM) and have the users download the HDCP module for it from a server in a country where the copright cartels cant touch it (preferably one with no DMCA like laws and that is not friendly with the big US media corps or the US government which means they wont listen when the US wants the sites shutdown)
Or better yet, GPL (or something similar but more suitable for hardware) the FPGA code and watch as it gets mirrored on so many web sites that its impossible to shut down (ala the source code and info to decrypt DVDs)
Slashdot Mirror
Back when the SR71 Blackbird, U2 Spyplane, B2 Bomber, F117 Nighthawk and other "secret" aircraft were being developed out at Groom Lake, no-one outside of the military knew about them. Therefore, anyone non-military seeing one flying overhead near Area 51 would be able to legitimatly claim that they saw an Unidentified Flying Object. I wouldnt be surprised if the US Air Force is testing (or planning to test) the next "black" aircraft out at Groom Lake. (I saw a documentary somewhere about a "secret" triangular aircraft supposedly called the Aurora)
I would imagine that the new features are broken down into:
Runtime/VM changes & support
Class Library additions & changes
Compiler & language chages
Presumably the most important thing for Mono is to support the first one (including any new stuff added to the bytecodes and such) and the essential parts of the second one.
And that is where WINE comes in. .NET app) and hence the WINE implementation of COM & OLE for any ActiveX controls or COM interop. .NET app will run on any system that has a usable port of WINE and Mono on it. If it is a non standard item for which source code is available, again, it could be ported and run via WINE or WineLib somehow. (or if its closed source but documented, it could be cloned somehow)
The people behind Mono and the WINE people should work together so that Mono will use WINE for any PInvoke (either standard win32 APIs or something custom that comes with the
If the item being used (e.g. the API call being PInvoked) is a standard windows item, then the
Even if the item being used is a closed source propriatory item for which there is no possible clone or use on non x86 platforms, Mono with WINE could still be used to run the whole thing on x86 linux
The question is whether the WINE people are prepared to do what is necessary to allow Mono to use WINE for the bits it needs (including PInvoke, COM and the talked-about implementation of System.Windows.Forms which has to go on top of something looking like user32 so that all the support is there)
What licence applies to the ECMA spec?
Does the ECMA spec (and attached licence) say anything at all about patents?
If google can do DRM that is as liberal as apples DRM, people will love them for it.
Are these TV show downloads google are doing tiny size like the apple video ipod downloads or are they something one could watch on a TV or computer monitor?
In no particular order, here are my top 10 open source projects:
1.The Apache web server (STILL the most popular web server in the world today and consistantly more secure than Microsoft IIS)
2.The Mozilla/Firefox web browser and the Gecko rendering engine (The growing popularity of Gecko based browsers has forced even microsoft to take notice)
3.The OpenOffice office suite (IMO the biggest threat to the total dominance of Microsoft Office since WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3)
4.The Linux kernel (Without this, we would still be waiting for HURD)
5.ReactOS (once its mature enough, people for whom their only microsoft product is Windows can become microsoft free)
6.The GNU Compiler Collection (For many platforms, this is the only compiler and for many others, it is the only free compiler sitting alongside a for-pay manufacturer provided compiler)
7.GIMP (Some people DO need all the power and features of Photoshop but for everyone else, GIMP is a great alternative)
8.PHP (together with MySQL, it has provided most of the features of propriatory technologies like ASP and JSP without the huge price tag)
9.OGG Vorbis/OGG Theora (with the Vorbis codec providing a truely FREE audio codec and the Theora video codec promising to do the same for video, the Xiph foundation is reaching the goal of providing a patent free way to implement audio and video into software products)
and 10.SourceForge (SourceForge is the worlds largest collection of open source software and provides a place for developers to host open source software of any size with site features like multiple download mirrors and fully functional CVS server that would cost big $$$ just about anywhere else)
Thankfully there is Visual Pinball which lets you play many classic tables (including Addams Family)
Microsoft needs to buy some companies who are making and selling the kind of games that are popular in japan.
Most of those companies are either loyal to Sony or are platform neutral. If microsoft could buy up some japanese developers and make their games 360 exclusive, japanese gamers (especially fans of whatever games/companies are now 360 exclusive) would start buying.
In australia, for example, The Nine Network has the rights to CSI and Survivor through a deal with CBS.
Part of that deal is gaurantees that the content wont be available on video formats in australia untill after the production or after the first australian airing (at least thats what I assume would be there).
If CBS were to allow google video to release these to australia before Nine has aired them (which is what people would be looking for), Nine would have grounds to sue CBS for breach of contract (I suspect).
Basicly, you go up to the computer and fill it all in.
The computer then prints out a ballot containing a human readable vote and a machine readable barcode.
Then, the ballot (assuming the voter aggrees with it) puts it into a sealed ballot box. To count the votes, the barcodes can be run through a barcode scanner. If necessary, a hand count could be performed. This could be done either with or without a direct count made by the poling station computer.
Another option would be to just do what we have in australia and use a paper ballot where you mark the boxes for the people you want (in our case, you indicate who you wnat to put as first preference, second preference etc etc)
Simple and no chance that the computer got it wrong.
1.Command & Conquer. NO, Generals does NOT count. I want a C&C 3 (not another red alert game either, a GDI vs Nod game)
:)
2.Space Quest (sure there were numerous sequals back in the day but a more modern one would be cool)
3.Transport Tycoon
4.I second the call (in the origonal article) for a Kid Icarus sequal, that game ROCKED
and 5.Sentinel Worlds: Future Magic. Not necessarily a direct sequal, in fact, any game is the same style but more modern would be COOL.
Here are some things I personally would like to see (some of which have been mentioned elsewhere as possible inclusions). Not all of them are 100% appropriate for something like C++ and the C++ standard library but all of them are things that seem (to me) to be usefull things to have as compiler and library provided functionality.
language provided thread support. This would need to provide the following (at least):
1.Proper thread safety at the language level (including mandates that the standard library is thread safe)
2.Thread-local storage (i.e. a way to say "this variable is local to this thread")
3.A way to say "this block of code should only be accessed by one thread at once" or "this variable should only be accessed by one thread at once" (something like a critical section on win32 I guess)
Plus of course ways to create threads and such.
Complete compatibility with C99 (i.e. any valid C99 program is also a valid C++0x program and will compile and run)
something similar to (and compatible with) fstream/ifstream/ofstream except that it reads from a block of memory instead of a disk file
A nice sane cross-platform way to detect memory leaks (i.e. the compiler implements the standards-specific memory leak detection in the implementation of new and delete and then the progammer would enable it e.g. with a new #paragma or something. (this goes with the garbage collector idea mentioned elsewhere)
Complete unicode support throughout the C++ language and standard library (although I think this is already mostly there)
New classes or functions (e.g. a new string class and new/improved collection classes) designed such that they help prevent or miinimize buffer overflows and memory corruption and the resulting effects (sort of like how compiler vendors like microsoft have started to add "safe" string functions only standardized)
Standardized definitions for constants like pi (plus more math functions as standard)
A standard library to do data compression and uncompression (perhaps an implementation of what is defined in RFC 1950, RFC 1951 and RFC 1952 i.e. the algorithim and format used in gzip, pkzip and zlib would be appropriate). Further to this, a new fstream/ifstream/ofstream derivitive that will compress data when writen out and uncompress it when read back in (without the programmer having to do anything).
I like the idea for a standard library way to do directory and file manipulation and the idea for a standard sockets library although (like the compression idea I have above), I do wonder if they are really appropriate for C++ or if they are better provided by third party libraries.
If the RIAA followed the letter of the law, maybe they wouldnt cop so much flack for all their lawsuits.
They would have actual evidence that machine x was serving file y (and that file y IS actually something they hold the copyright to) at time z which would be presented to the ISP (who could take whatever action is appropriate, either handing over the information or telling the RIAA to get a court order which would be much easier if they have proof of the flie sharing)
As for the issue with kids loading p2p apps like bearshare and such, maybe ISPs need to offer a service to customers where (with customer approval), the customers accounts can be locked so that p2p apps wont run on them. (which would mean that parents could tell the ISPs to lock that out and stop their kids doing this stuff). This would work in the same way as the telcos who offer call barring that lets you prevent access to premium rate numbers (900 numbers etc)
One thing to remember is that spacecraft do not have to land at the same spaceport they took off from.
The use of suborbital flights (like what SpaceShipOne was able to do and what Virgin Galactic plans to do) as a way to get from A to B much faster than a normal airplane is something that boffins and scientists and space gurus are already talking about and drawing up plans for.
In that circumstance, all the rules that apply to a normal airplane flight (such as passport requirements, no-fly lists etc) will need to be applied to the spacefights.
The first xbox had information in the XBE file stating what media it should be run from (if you change it, the signature doesnt match anymore)
Here are 4 technologies that are always seen as "just around the corner" but which I predict wont make much progress in 2006.
1.Flying cars. Not because the technology isnt up to par but because of the difficulty of dealing with the huge regluatory hurdles.
Right now, there are laws limiting where VTOL vehicles (which would include flying cars and also includes helicoptors) can take off and land. If flying cars were introduced, you would need to completly re-write the rulebook when it comes to aviation, flight paths, places you are allowed to take off and land from etc.
2.Video downloading services offering content you can watch on your TV. (as opposed to content you can watch on a mobile phone or video ipod etc)
Firstly, the TV operators (pay and Free-To-Air) do not want competition from "Internet Television" (be it true IPTV running as an actual stream you download or be it something you buy and watch later) and will pressure the content providers (a number of who have investments in cable/satelite/FTA TV) not to expand in this area (just look at what the TV networks did when ABC offered its shows on the iTunes store). Remember that several cable companies are starting to offer video-on-demand and would see internet downloading as a direct competitor to that.
And secondly, the bandwidth required to download full-size movies and TV shows is huge (especially if compressed at a rate that doesnt sacrifice the quality too much and makes them worth spending the $$$ on vs buying the DVD) so many (normal) people (especially people on ISP plans that limit their monthly transfer allowance) are not going to want to download large files like that.
The other problem is how to get the content from the PC where it was purchased and downloaded into something you can watch on your TV. Burning to DVD is not an option (not everyone has the time, skills or gear to burn a DVD and in any case, there is no copy protection method that can be applied to burnt DVDs AFAIK) and the other option (having your computer send the video to a box connected to your TV) is out too because the boxes just arent available (and there is no standards between boxes that do exist as far as what formats they accept or what, if any, copy protection they support)
3.Stem Cells and related technology. (including such things as cloning body parts) There are too many people opposed to this sort of technology (including, I believe, George W Bush to some extent) and too many people worried about the negative effects (e.g. cloned babies) for this to advance out of the lab anytime soon.
4.Online & home delivered groceries. There is some movement towards this idea but no-one has been able to make it work yet. In the vision of the future, you would just scan the barcode on something you want and it would record the item. Then, this combined with other items (items you dont have to scan or items that dont have barcodes like fruit etc) would be placed online and the items would be delivered directly to you.
I am sure there is a big market out there from people wanting to be able to buy all their food etc online.
Even better would be if the online supermarkets could combine with a store like K-Mart, Target or Big W (here in australia, Coles Myer owns K-Mart, Target and Coles Supermarkets and Woolworths owns Woolworths supermarkets and Big W) so you could have all sorts of variety goods delivered in the same order. Also, combine this with the alcohol sales too and you have a perfect item. (both Coles Myer and Woolworths own bottle shop chains)
But even where you can buy online, the range and price dont compare favorably to the bricks & mortar stores and its only available to a limited area. (I have no idea if other parts of the world like europe and america are any better).
As to why I dont think we will see any forward movement with this in 2006, I think it is because in order for this to really take off, the interface has to be dead simple to use.
And it needs to be accessable where the food is
Basicly, in order to win in court, they have to prove (IIRC) that the machine owned by the defendant was serving a file AND that the file is something they hold copyright to.
Whereas, to extract a settlement, all they need is enough to suggest that the defendant was sharing SOMETHING and the defendant will probobly pay up (especially if they do actually have illegal audio files somewhere, be they the files that the RIAA mentions in the lawsuit or otherwise).
The burden of proof is much less for the "convice the ISP to hand over the data without a warrent or court order then hit them with a lawsuit" option than for the "go to court and file a john doe case to get the details of the person who owns the machine that was supposedly sharing copyrighted files" option.
Which is why the RIAA & friends want new laws around the globe forcing ISPs to hand over logs and data without warrants. (anyone who is elegable to vote in the relavent countries, please vote for people who do NOT supporting such nasty laws, I know I did in the last australian election)
IE (as seen in current windows) is just an exe file that loads shdocvw.dll and mshtml.dll to do HTML rendering. (and uses other dlls like wininet.dll and co to talk to the internet).
:)
Now, if you wanted to talk about replacing the microsoft HTML rendering engine (mshtml.dll & friends), thats different. But, you would need to make it 100% API compatible AND it would need to support all the things that apps need in order to work (including every HTML help file out there). Just look at how hard it is for the WINE team to get mshtml.dll and shdocvw.dll to work right
Here in australia we just have one federal GST that applies to most things (except basics like basic food and some other things) plus a few wierd extra taxes here and there (like a tax on luxury cars and taxes/excise on petrol, alcohol and tobacco)
The states each get a chunk of the GST revenues with the federal government getting money from other taxes (including income tax and company tax).
The states do not have either an income tax or a consumption tax.
Does anyone have any links or info on this "decomplation technology" and what it actually would be able to do (if it was ever released)?
Are there undocumented APIs microsoft is being asked to document?
Undocumented file formats?
Undocumented network protocols?
Disk formats like NTFS?
The ironic thing about the betamax case was that the same Sony that fought Universal over betamax and won an important precedent for fair use is now trying to get laws passed that undo that very precedent.
Including (either as a free download/upgrade or a cheap purchase from XBOX live) a media player that can play the same formats as windows media player (and can do it from a windows file share) would be a great thing for microsoft and would sell more 360s (I am sure there are lots of people that would love some kind of "media player" for their home entertainment systems especially if it was reasonably cheap (and in this case it can do games too) and could play media from their PCs.
:)
Heck, if there was a way to add video inputs to it, microsoft could turn it into a PVR too (although they would need to come out with a bigger hard disk for that to work
It would still be a cool myth none the less, even if it could have been landed by an unmaned mission.
Just build a device with an FPGA, a way to program the FPGA plus a pair of HDMI cables with all data going through the FPGA.
Sell the FPGA unprogrammed. Or better yet, come up with some legitimate use for it (i.e. something you could do by processing a HDMI/DVI signal that doesnt involve breaking DRM) and have the users download the HDCP module for it from a server in a country where the copright cartels cant touch it (preferably one with no DMCA like laws and that is not friendly with the big US media corps or the US government which means they wont listen when the US wants the sites shutdown)
Or better yet, GPL (or something similar but more suitable for hardware) the FPGA code and watch as it gets mirrored on so many web sites that its impossible to shut down (ala the source code and info to decrypt DVDs)