can we go a whole month without a new format.?
on
New Digital Audio Formats
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· Score: 3, Insightful
It doesn't matter how good a new format is or how many new features it offers, it it doesn't offer significant value (perceived or real), it wont take off.
Sure AAC is better, sure Ogg is better, but for most folks, even those with huge music collections and very exacting preferences in their audio systems, MP3 is still good enough. Why? Because most people care about the music, not the technology.
Caring more about the technology forces you to give up some of the music? Why? Availability. Maybe they've already ripped their audio collections to MP3. Maybe they've already invested in a good MP3 player.
The FCC is needed to ensure that the public airwaves are used fairly. They've done a pretty poor job of it lately but that doesn't negate their need. The airwaves are a limited resource so some regulation is necessary or the big guys will squash the little guys.
A reformed FCC should do 3 things:
regulate the power and frequency which transmitters broadcast on. Make sure everybody works a plays well with each other.
license transmitters (rather than individuals) for broadcast to ensure that everyone works and plays well with others. However, some frequencies should be left open for all to use for all common purposes (that includes 2 way communications, television, radio and data) for experimentation or personal use.
Foster (and if necesary help fund) efforts to make intelligent use of available bandwidth.
How long before we find out that Time Warner and the rest of the cable companies are collecting viewing data? How long before all networked TV devices are collecting this information?
This is one area where I'm cool with data being collected on me and my habits. In fact I'd like to see better demographic information associated with the viewing data TiVo is collecting. I'd like to see the Neilson ratings go the way of the buggy whip.
Much of the Neilson's data is still collected using a paper and pen. They also employ some more high tech methods but those still require some manual intervention and have produced some questionable results.
What benefits does this PDA runs Linux under the hood provide? The only mention of synchronization is Outlook.
Is Royal trying to appeal to the mass market by supporting synchronization with Outlook and the geek market with touting it's Linux basis?
Did they choose Linux for the "it's Linux, therefore it's cool" factor or did they choose Linux because it's a good kernel to develop this kind of hardware on?
Seriously. Why are these things coming out of automotive companies? First Honda and now Toyota. What do they plan to do with these technologies? Spin off a company to manufacture and market them? License the intellecual property? They certainly aren't dumping money into these projects for the fun of it. Technology for technology's sake exists only on university campuses and hobbiest garages.
iPods, are they audio devices? are they jewelry?
on
iPod Mini Sells Out
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· Score: 1
Apple seems to have correctly identified the price point and the market they were going after
Perhaps, but this is Apple we are talking about. The popuplarity of the mini ipod is probably better explained by hype and fad. Actually I think they could have priced these things a little higher and still sell them out.
iPods are part useful music playing device, and part jewelry. Why would someone give up 80% of the capacity to save only 15%? The hype, and most importantly the "cute" factor is driving sales on this unit.
Apple should have priced these at $275 and stuck at that price. Better yet, strike up a deal with the NCAA, NFL, MLB, and NBA to put team logos and colors on the mini iPods for an extra $25 and they'd have to back a dumptruck up carry the money away.
Currently going for $80 after rebate from J&R Music and Computer
All the reviews I've read, and USENET traffic I've looked through has been very positive.
Producers have seen that there is a ton of cash to be made in DVD box sets but only for shows that people want to watch. I wouldn't be surprised in the near future to see episodes put out *ONLY* on DVD to promote purchase of these box sets.
The upside is that this will encourage producers to create shows that do not suck. The downside is that they are going to be quick with the trigger finger, if it aint a hit, off it goes.
In the past money made off of DVD box sets has been gravy, treated much like syndication money but as the stakes grow larger it's going to have a lot more attention paid to it.
When I was in grade school, people bitched about using TVs.
Yeah, and people probably bitched about filmstrips and movies as well. But all 3 were used very differently than computers are being used today.
Those TVs were well controlled in most cases and were probably only used for specified educational programming. They added to the educational process not took away.
We need all of these things to teach our kids!
The big problem with computers in the classroom is that they are being used the wrong way. Sit the kiddies down in front of some "educational" software and let the software do all the work.
As for networking the classroom, it's just not needed. Network the hell out of the library or computer rooms though. Teach kids these are tools not toys.
Primary school kids have no need to do "research" on the internet. They've not developed their BS filter yet and will be likely to come back stating something as fact that they read on some crank's website. Wiring a 6th grade classroom for net access in the name of "bringing the world to them" is the equivalent of dropping them off in a strange neighborhood and expecting them find their way home. Sure some rare ones can, but most are going to get lost and possibly harmed along the way.
As long as it can boot Linux, who cares? I could easily put a Tux sticker over the logo.
The businesses who cant cut their unit price low enough for WalMart to give them the time of day, thats who.
WalMart doesn't have low-low prices everyday because they like you. They've got these prices because they can pressure businesses into cutting their prices so low they barely make anything.
So what's the break even point? 80% capacity? 90%? How many of those seats were sold at huge discounts or even free as a way to entice travelers from US airlines. Did it work?
I wonder how the break even point between a 747 and a concorde compares.
Computers in classrooms are diversions, perhaps even toys, especially at the elementary level. Let's focus on teaching these kids to read, write and 'rithmatic first.
Hopefully they'll build a nice big window so all the students can see this beo^H^H^Hcluster of macs. Besure to leave the blinds up though because these same students will be working 2 part time jobs just to afford tuition.
Virginia Tech placed the dual-2GHz G5 order shortly after the G5 was announced. Multiple sources said Virginia Tech has ordered 1100 units
Ummmm, Virginia Tech (like many institutions of higher learning, especially in Virginia) is counting paperclips. Tuition is skyrocketing and state financial support is drying up.
There has been talk of going private and actually coming out ahead because the amount of money coming in from the state is fast dropping to the point where all the people required to maintained the state mandated beurocacies costs more.
And where did the $$$ for these 1100 G5's come from?
It amazes me that educated people get all up in arms about the computers in their kids schools. These are tools people!
Reliance on computers in the classroom is turning academic programs into vocational ones. Mac? Windows? Linux? Who cares! Teach kids concepts not tasks.
Some kids are learning how to fix carburators over in auto shop (for those schools where these things still exist) while other kids are in physics class learning how the internal combustion engine works. The kids in auto shop can apply that knowledge, pretty much just to fixing carberators.
Similarly if we teach kids to accomplish specific tasks on specific hardware on specific software, that's pretty much all they'll be able to do with it.
I've worked with some people who received serveral Cisco certifications without ever having touched a simulator much less a router. They had a far better conceptual understanding of what was going on and learned new skills and tasks very quickly as a result.
While in DC....
Visit the Smithsoneons of course. But dont miss:
National Museum of American History: Everything from a Morse's original telegraphs, Bell's original telephones, an Enigma, an ENIAC, a Hollorith Tabulating Machine, to a Trash-80 in the Information Age Exhibit located in the lower level
Air and Space: The Wright Brother's Flyer, the Spirit of St Louis, the X-1, and if you visit after Decemeber of 2003, head out to Dulles Airport to see Udvar Hazy Center which will have even more aircraft including a SR-71, the Enola Gay, and the original space shuttle Enterprise.
Slashdot Mirror
It doesn't matter how good a new format is or how many new features it offers, it it doesn't offer significant value (perceived or real), it wont take off.
Sure AAC is better, sure Ogg is better, but for most folks, even those with huge music collections and very exacting preferences in their audio systems, MP3 is still good enough. Why? Because most people care about the music, not the technology.
Caring more about the technology forces you to give up some of the music? Why? Availability. Maybe they've already ripped their audio collections to MP3. Maybe they've already invested in a good MP3 player.
Beta was better than VHS but VHS won too.
The FCC is needed to ensure that the public airwaves are used fairly. They've done a pretty poor job of it lately but that doesn't negate their need. The airwaves are a limited resource so some regulation is necessary or the big guys will squash the little guys.
A reformed FCC should do 3 things:Wow, it only took 20 years to increase the size and weight of the watch several times over.
I wonder if Bill Lumberg will be working on this project? That would be terrific.
How long before we find out that Time Warner and the rest of the cable companies are collecting viewing data? How long before all networked TV devices are collecting this information?
This is one area where I'm cool with data being collected on me and my habits. In fact I'd like to see better demographic information associated with the viewing data TiVo is collecting. I'd like to see the Neilson ratings go the way of the buggy whip.
Much of the Neilson's data is still collected using a paper and pen. They also employ some more high tech methods but those still require some manual intervention and have produced some questionable results.
What benefits does this PDA runs Linux under the hood provide? The only mention of synchronization is Outlook.
Is Royal trying to appeal to the mass market by supporting synchronization with Outlook and the geek market with touting it's Linux basis?
Did they choose Linux for the "it's Linux, therefore it's cool" factor or did they choose Linux because it's a good kernel to develop this
kind of hardware on?
Seriously. Why are these things coming out of automotive companies? First Honda and now Toyota. What do they plan to do with these technologies? Spin off a company to manufacture and market them? License the intellecual property? They certainly aren't dumping money into these projects for the fun of it. Technology for technology's sake exists only on university campuses and hobbiest garages.
Apple seems to have correctly identified the price point and the market they were going after
Perhaps, but this is Apple we are talking about. The popuplarity of the mini ipod is probably better explained by hype and fad. Actually I think they could have priced these things a little higher and still sell them out.
iPods are part useful music playing device, and part jewelry. Why would someone give up 80% of the capacity to save only 15%? The hype, and most importantly the "cute" factor is driving sales on this unit.
Apple should have priced these at $275 and stuck at that price. Better yet, strike up a deal with the NCAA, NFL, MLB, and NBA to put team logos and colors on the mini iPods for an extra $25 and they'd have to back a dumptruck up carry the money away.
Currently going for $80 after rebate from J&R Music and Computer All the reviews I've read, and USENET traffic I've looked through has been very positive.
... is in DVDs, and it's a good thing.
Producers have seen that there is a ton of cash to be made in DVD box sets but only for shows that people want to watch. I wouldn't be surprised in the near future to see episodes put out *ONLY* on DVD to promote purchase of these box sets.
The upside is that this will encourage producers to create shows that do not suck. The downside is that they are going to be quick with the trigger finger, if it aint a hit, off it goes.
In the past money made off of DVD box sets has been gravy, treated much like syndication money but as the stakes grow larger it's going to have a lot more attention paid to it.
When I was in grade school, people bitched about using TVs.
Yeah, and people probably bitched about filmstrips and movies as well. But all 3 were used very differently than computers are being used today.
Those TVs were well controlled in most cases and were probably only used for specified educational programming. They added to the educational process not took away.
We need all of these things to teach our kids!
The big problem with computers in the classroom is that they are being used the wrong way. Sit the kiddies down in front of some "educational" software and let the software do all the work.
As for networking the classroom, it's just not needed. Network the hell out of the library or computer rooms though. Teach kids these are tools not toys.
Primary school kids have no need to do "research" on the internet. They've not developed their BS filter yet and will be likely to come back stating something as fact that they read on some crank's website. Wiring a 6th grade classroom for net access in the name of "bringing the world to them" is the equivalent of dropping them off in a strange neighborhood and expecting them find their way home. Sure some rare ones can, but most are going to get lost and possibly harmed along the way.
... where the number of choices on each page is more like 500/+-200
As long as it can boot Linux, who cares? I could easily put a Tux sticker over the logo.
The businesses who cant cut their unit price low enough for WalMart to give them the time of day, thats who.
WalMart doesn't have low-low prices everyday because they like you. They've got these prices because they can pressure businesses into cutting their prices so low they barely make anything.
So what's the break even point? 80% capacity? 90%? How many of those seats were sold at huge discounts or even free as a way to entice travelers from US airlines. Did it work?
I wonder how the break even point between a 747 and a concorde compares.
Computers in classrooms are diversions, perhaps even toys, especially at the elementary level. Let's focus on teaching these kids to read, write and 'rithmatic first.
Spotting dangerous thunderstorms and helping find tornadoes as early as possible. If they help predict if will rain on your picnic, that's a bonus.
... after rebates
Hopefully they'll build a nice big window so all the students can see this beo^H^H^Hcluster of macs. Besure to leave the blinds up though because these same students will be working 2 part time jobs just to afford tuition.
Virginia Tech placed the dual-2GHz G5 order shortly after the G5 was announced. Multiple sources said Virginia Tech has ordered 1100 units
Ummmm, Virginia Tech (like many institutions of higher learning, especially in Virginia) is counting paperclips. Tuition is skyrocketing and state financial support is drying up.
There has been talk of going private and actually coming out ahead because the amount of money coming in from the state is fast dropping to the point where all the people required to maintained the state mandated beurocacies costs more.
And where did the $$$ for these 1100 G5's come from?
I'm sure I've seen this article many many times over the past several years. Linux zealots are starting to sound like Red Sox fans.
how does Linux or Apple factor into this?
... they need some new books.
It amazes me that educated people get all up in arms about the computers in their kids schools. These are tools people!
Reliance on computers in the classroom is turning academic programs into vocational ones. Mac? Windows? Linux? Who cares! Teach kids concepts not tasks.
Some kids are learning how to fix carburators over in auto shop (for those schools where these things still exist) while other kids are in physics class learning how the internal combustion engine works. The kids in auto shop can apply that knowledge, pretty much just to fixing carberators.
Similarly if we teach kids to accomplish specific tasks on specific hardware on specific software, that's pretty much all they'll be able to do with it.
I've worked with some people who received serveral Cisco certifications without ever having touched a simulator much less a router. They had a far better conceptual understanding of what was going on and learned new skills and tasks very quickly as a result.
Sure it's pretty but how what percentage of people will it serve sufficiently?
For lesson in form and function in furniture design, look no further than Frank Lloyd Wright
The floodgates of dumn opened up then.
In Boston, check out the Computer History Museum
In Chicago
In the Bay Area there is