In looking at the original text this bill is a pretty minor update to an existing law. It adds the internet to the list of communications means for which gambling is illegal. The list previously consisted of telephone, telegraph, radio and semaphore(!).
The biggest change is the redefinition of the crime from a gross misdemeanor to that of "professional gambling".
The only other change is to require a 60% vote before the state can offer a lottery that involves an electronic device.
So instead of implementing an open standard already adopted by users everywhere, already used for archival purposes, and already implemented by dozens of vendors, MS decided to make up their own format...
What standard would that be? Surely not PDF? From Wikipedia:
Portable Document Format (PDF) is a proprietary file format developed by Adobe Systems
It stands for XML Paper Specification and is Microsoft's answer to PDF for document archival and printing. In fact, the whole Vista printing architecture centers around it. All Office applications will be able to save to it and there will be a viewer for non-Vista systems. It's pretty open (especially in Microsoft terms) and overall a good thing (IMHO).
See Wikipedia Entry.
I was struggling a couple of weeks ago to get MS Word to number my damn outline sections properly and was getting nowhere. So I downloaded OpenOffice and guess what? It not only opened the document fine but my numbering problem went away! I was impressed with just how many features there are in Open Write. Most are as good or better than Word. I was really surprised how easy it was to switch. I'm a believer!
The spreadsheet looks just as promising. Of course any Office Basic Application macros won't run, but I was surprised how well it did with existing Excel docs.
It even inspired me to switch from Outlook to Thunderbird...
... after they confiscate all the firearms from the public?
Nope. Can't do that. Firearms are explicitly protected by the Constitution (well, an ammendment to it, anyway). I haven't been able to find any constitutional right to bear digital recording devices, but I'm still looking... I'll get back to you if I find anything.
I think that explains your ridiculous comment quite well.
Apple is not stupid. For whatever reason they chose to go with another supplier, I can assure you that it was not due to any technical issues or lack of capabilities on the Portal Player chip.
The PP chip does not require an external audio codec (what do you think those two ARMs are for?). Also, just to clarify, the PP chip contains dual core ARMs (not requires). The current video iPod is reported to use an external video codec (perhaps that is where your confusion comes in).
You can bet that Apple negotiated a favorable pricing deal on the Portal Player chips. I don't think cost is the whole issue.
Excellent observation! This announcement really only affects future flash based iPods. It is interesting to note that Apple did already stray from PortalPlayer for the shuffle. Not that PP really cared, shuffles didn't exactly sail off the shelf.
PortalPlayer is still very much in consideration for future video iPods.
So, who will get the new Nano business? My money is on Intel XScale, but a good argument can be made for Samsung.
Disclaimer: I work for PortalPlayer (but I have no inside knowledge as to what Apple is thinking...)
... Office doesn't support exporting to PDF yet...
I would not hold my breath if I were you. Microsoft is promoting their own version called XPS. Then again, they did say they would support PDF. Which do you believe? Personally, I'm betting on them promoting their own technology over PDF.
These day even Apple are moving to generic chips in order to play AAC...
Umm. Apple uses the Portal Player chip in the latest iPod just as they always have... Unless you are referring to the Shuttle, but I don't forsee any new versions of that coming out...
BTW, there's no reason that the iPod couldn't support Ogg Vorbis, they just choose not to.
That's kind of like getting a patent for the number pi.
That's a pretty good analogy. Certainly, any unique techniques invented to calculate various portions of the value of pi should be patentable, but the results itself? Come on. The same applies for decoding DNA. You got a method for determining a DNA sequence? Great! Patent it. But the actual sequence itself? Sorry, no.
Taken to an extreme... suppose I invent a method that allows reading text from a book in the dark (aka flashlight under the bedsheets). Do I have the right to claim ownership to every book that I read using that method? I think not.
$40K to re-image a drive and maybe poke around to make sure no key logging hardware is in place (although a lot of good that will do with a touch screen)? Sounds like easy money to me.
... I have a perfectly good cable modem connection
If you RTFA you'll see that this is intended to extend iPod sales to those who do not have broadband access (or even a computer). Yes, believe it or not, such people do still exist.
I do this several times a day and have seen about every type of malware out there.
Please, please tell me that this is on different systems. If you are doing this on one system, then you are either paranoid, extremely anal, or in desparate need of changing your online surfing habits!
Since your post is quite informative, I'll assume that you are in fact supporting a number of systems.:-)
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The Blu-Ray license agreement requires that no one make a combo HD-DVD/Blu-Ray player. HD has no restriction.
So instead of making a Blu-Ray drive with HD support, why doesn't someone make an HD drive with Blu-Ray support? Oh, wait.
In looking at the original text this bill is a pretty minor update to an existing law. It adds the internet to the list of communications means for which gambling is illegal. The list previously consisted of telephone, telegraph, radio and semaphore(!).
The biggest change is the redefinition of the crime from a gross misdemeanor to that of "professional gambling".
The only other change is to require a 60% vote before the state can offer a lottery that involves an electronic device.
Please tell me that they are not releasing a sequel to the movie! Oh, the horror!
So instead of implementing an open standard already adopted by users everywhere, already used for archival purposes, and already implemented by dozens of vendors, MS decided to make up their own format...
What standard would that be? Surely not PDF?
...From Wikipedia:
What the hell is XPS?
It stands for XML Paper Specification and is Microsoft's answer to PDF for document archival and printing. In fact, the whole Vista printing architecture centers around it. All Office applications will be able to save to it and there will be a viewer for non-Vista systems. It's pretty open (especially in Microsoft terms) and overall a good thing (IMHO). See Wikipedia Entry.
The only thing you really know about your private key is the passphrase needed to use it...
That's why I always use the pass phrase "Go to hell!"
Inquistor: What is your pass phrase?Me: Go to hell!
I was struggling a couple of weeks ago to get MS Word to number my damn outline sections properly and was getting nowhere. So I downloaded OpenOffice and guess what? It not only opened the document fine but my numbering problem went away! I was impressed with just how many features there are in Open Write. Most are as good or better than Word. I was really surprised how easy it was to switch. I'm a believer!
The spreadsheet looks just as promising. Of course any Office Basic Application macros won't run, but I was surprised how well it did with existing Excel docs.
It even inspired me to switch from Outlook to Thunderbird...
Microsoft's proposal will take a 'holistic approach' to tackle the classification problem...
I'm guessing that this "holistic approach" will do for malware what it did for medicine.
A missing parentheses in a bit of code is to blame...the flaw has already been corrected.
Any word on exactly what the fix was?
Congratulations, it's people like you and people that think like you, that are continually eroding our freedoms & rights.
Sorry. I forgot the smiley face at the end of my post. :-)
I keep forgetting that people on Slashdot are often sarcasm-impaired. My bad.
... after they confiscate all the firearms from the public?
Nope. Can't do that. Firearms are explicitly protected by the Constitution (well, an ammendment to it, anyway). I haven't been able to find any constitutional right to bear digital recording devices, but I'm still looking... I'll get back to you if I find anything.
...make sure there aren't any electrical conduit where you're making your hole. That might make it less fun.
Only for the person breaking in. It'd be f***ing hilarious for any else watching the events unfold.
...this announcement from Apple...
Apple did not make this announcement. Portal Player did. Something about wanting to remain up and up with investors...
Yes, I'm rather bitter...
I think that explains your ridiculous comment quite well.
Apple is not stupid. For whatever reason they chose to go with another supplier, I can assure you that it was not due to any technical issues or lack of capabilities on the Portal Player chip.
The PP chip does not require an external audio codec (what do you think those two ARMs are for?). Also, just to clarify, the PP chip contains dual core ARMs (not requires). The current video iPod is reported to use an external video codec (perhaps that is where your confusion comes in).
You can bet that Apple negotiated a favorable pricing deal on the Portal Player chips. I don't think cost is the whole issue.
Excellent observation! This announcement really only affects future flash based iPods. It is interesting to note that Apple did already stray from PortalPlayer for the shuffle. Not that PP really cared, shuffles didn't exactly sail off the shelf.
PortalPlayer is still very much in consideration for future video iPods.
So, who will get the new Nano business? My money is on Intel XScale, but a good argument can be made for Samsung.
Disclaimer: I work for PortalPlayer (but I have no inside knowledge as to what Apple is thinking...)
... Office doesn't support exporting to PDF yet ...
I would not hold my breath if I were you. Microsoft is promoting their own version called XPS. Then again, they did say they would support PDF. Which do you believe? Personally, I'm betting on them promoting their own technology over PDF.
I thought we were going to get a blow by blow account of Bill Gates from the time he gets out of bed...
Thanks for that imagery... Then again what I would spend my billions on may not be the same as Mr. Gates.
These day even Apple are moving to generic chips in order to play AAC...
Umm. Apple uses the Portal Player chip in the latest iPod just as they always have... Unless you are referring to the Shuttle, but I don't forsee any new versions of that coming out...
BTW, there's no reason that the iPod couldn't support Ogg Vorbis, they just choose not to.
an Ipod so small that it fits into your inner ear.
Brilliant! Now everyone needs to buy two to get stereo!
That's kind of like getting a patent for the number pi.
That's a pretty good analogy. Certainly, any unique techniques invented to calculate various portions of the value of pi should be patentable, but the results itself? Come on. The same applies for decoding DNA. You got a method for determining a DNA sequence? Great! Patent it. But the actual sequence itself? Sorry, no.
Taken to an extreme... suppose I invent a method that allows reading text from a book in the dark (aka flashlight under the bedsheets). Do I have the right to claim ownership to every book that I read using that method? I think not.
$40K to re-image a drive and maybe poke around to make sure no key logging hardware is in place (although a lot of good that will do with a touch screen)? Sounds like easy money to me.
Ah, I think you folks want the Microsoft Claims Worlds Best Search Engine Soon discussion next door. This is, in fact the social network discussion...
Are they gone? Stupid gits...
:-)
... I have a perfectly good cable modem connection
If you RTFA you'll see that this is intended to extend iPod sales to those who do not have broadband access (or even a computer). Yes, believe it or not, such people do still exist.
I do this several times a day and have seen about every type of malware out there.
Please, please tell me that this is on different systems. If you are doing this on one system, then you are either paranoid, extremely anal, or in desparate need of changing your online surfing habits!
Since your post is quite informative, I'll assume that you are in fact supporting a number of systems. :-)