"I'll take software released with UI flaws over software released with security and stability flaws anytime;)"
Not me, I like using my computer.
"Surely this is what you mean? Most open source apps don't have buggy UI's, they just aren't uniform."
Uniformity is not the problem. The problem is that the UI isn't designed. It does the job that suits the programmer. Virtual Dub comes to mind. Gimp is another. Funny thing is that Gimp has something to copy off of.
"Just because open source can do in a couple months what takes a commercial entity a year doesn't mean those releases aren't higher quality."
You must use different OSS software than I do. It's a common and justifiable complaint that OSS software rarely has a good UI tied to it. It's easy to get software out when you skip UI design.
"For example, phone companies are supposed to track where phone calls originate (for 911 dispatchers, for example). That's not going to be possible with VoIP."
I don't follow your logic here. Even if that's true today (though another poster disputed that), it's not like the technology isn't there.
"Correction: Retro Studios is 1st party. Nintendo bought them out 100% about halfway through Metroid Prime development."
I appreciate the clarification.
"But if you go into the game expecting anything remotely like an FPS, you're going to be sorely disappointed. If you try to play the game like a Metroid game, then the controls are damn near perfect."
You know, I have it, but haven't had time to tinker with it. I'll make a note to examine it.
"Ultimately, could Microsoft be blamed for these viruses? After all, if they didn't miss these bugs..."
You do realize that the people who program for Microsoft are normal everyday mistake making humans, right? You also realize that somebody spent a great deal of time trying to find that exploit, right?
MS could be held responsible, but what would that really accomplish? MS can run around trying to do everything it can to make itself 'exploit-free', and somebody'll find a way to be obnoxious anyway. Chain letters come to mind. Socially engineered obnoxiousness.
Here's the problem, though. The same types of humans that write MS code also write Linux code. If a worm hits Windows and causes damage, and MS gets penalized for it, that sounds all great and cool and stuff because everybody hates Microsoft. Now, treating everybody fair and equal here, what happens when a defect in Linux allows for a worm to be just as mischevious? Worse, Linux is more commonly used in life or death situations, as opposed to a desktop intended to entertain. Tons of money could be on the line here. How would Linux be penalized? Given its decentralized nature, that could be unenforcable. However, if it was enforced, the community would have a nasty problem on their hands. If not, then the corps that use these OS's would be wondering if it's more valuable to have somebody accountable for the code they write. Boom, back to MS.
Think about what I've said. That's a can of worms you don't want to have opened.
"Does this mean that protocol droids (a la C-3PO) are now a reality? "
No. But they're a plausibility. Sorry to sound nitpicky but we're a long way from getting to something C-3PO'esque. We haven't quite gotten the 'real time translation of spoken word to an alternative language' bit yet. It's being developed, but it's significantly harder to do than a walking robot.
Would I be surprised to see protocol droids 10 years from now? I'd be startled, but only because it would still feel a little soon. But it wouldn't be earth shattering.
I have to admit, though, I was damned impressed with some of those Asimo vids. $1 says Sony and Honda will get into a robot race before long.
"I've watched this damned robot climb stairs ever since they built it. Oooh. Ahhh. Up the stairs. Down the stairs. In slow motion, while fantasy techno music plays, as if this robot walking up the stairs is going to solve world hunger."
I don't seem to recall ending hunger as the mission of this robot. While you're thinking of reasons not to like this thing, I've been a little more productive. In a few years, these things will be visiting disaster sites looking for survivors. They've already got robots doing that today, however a sure-footed humanoid design would be far more maneuverable. It also occurs to me that care for the disadvantaged (paralysis? multiplesclerosis? amptuee?) could be rendered.
"Sure, if a damned robot does it it's special. Will we cheer and marvel when they take all our jobs?"
Funny. Despite all the automation performed in the last century, we're still employed. The fact of the matter is that human judgement is the core of just about any job out there.
Robots are coming. You can hold a gun and fight, or you can use your brain and cook up a useful solution.
"Sadly the robot ambassador was then heard to say "Hand over your flesh, we demand it" before exploding the nuclear bomb in his head. Damn multi-LED faced monsters."
Moments before, somebody had stuck a refrigerator magnet to its head and it started singing folk songs.
"In this game, role playing is a very key concept in creating the best player you can, and this is what is keeping people interest."
That's something that can kill the games industry. Get too immersed in one game, and you're not buying a bunch of others.
I don't think this is a generalization that anybody can make. Some like me are gonna want to play the "I can hop in and hop out quickly" games, and others like you are going to want to play the "I want to explore everything I can about this" type of game.
Frankly, I am a bit turned off at buying some games because I don't want to spend that much time coming to grips with them. I don't want to go around remapping keys or figuring out if jump is a or b.
Know what? I think I really miss playing arcade games.
Hmm I dunno if complicated is the word I'd use. I do feel, though, that not enough attention is paid to the UI in many cases. I remember when Zelda 64 came out, I was shocked that Link would jump automatically just by walking to the edge. No more jump button. *Whew* I was happy about that. No more worrying about hitting the button at the right time.
I think Nintendo is one of the few companies who watches somebody play and says "What are the common mistakes they are making? What can we do to alleviate them?"
"Between their broken business model (selling hardware that forces you to pay monthly fees for unnecessary service, and leaving you with a useless piece of garbage when they finally die), and cable and satellite providers coming up with PVR hardware for free plus a monthly fee that's cheaper than TIVOs, I'm surprised they still exist."
They provide a kick ass service and you're surprised they still exist?
There are probably some cases where it is. Have you ever read that site that has the obscure laws that the US has in some states? No examples immediately pop into mind, but they're non sensical. Imagine getting busted because you named your Poodle Ivan. Okay, that's not an example of anything that's really happened, but some of the laws really are that ridiculous.
However, there's the whole "common sense, you should have known it was wrong" factor that comes into play. There may not be a law that specifically says you cannot download MP3s, but when you get something you haven't paid for, you should know that you're not allowed to do that. Right?
Frankly, I think there should be a happy medium. Some git broke out my car window the other night and stole my clothes for a business trip. I'd be livid if he got off because he didn't know that it was illegal to steal clothes that he had intended to return.
" The idea that someone can sneak into your office, use your copy machine to illegally copy and distribute a book, and then get you thrown into jail for up to five years and fined $250,000 per offense is utterly and completely unjust..."
Slashdot Mirror
"You forgot: "Double sweet." "
That was O'Brien. Double light, double sweet. Jamaican blend, if I'm not mistaken.
"I'll take software released with UI flaws over software released with security and stability flaws anytime ;)"
Not me, I like using my computer.
"Surely this is what you mean? Most open source apps don't have buggy UI's, they just aren't uniform."
Uniformity is not the problem. The problem is that the UI isn't designed. It does the job that suits the programmer. Virtual Dub comes to mind. Gimp is another. Funny thing is that Gimp has something to copy off of.
"Just because open source can do in a couple months what takes a commercial entity a year doesn't mean those releases aren't higher quality."
You must use different OSS software than I do. It's a common and justifiable complaint that OSS software rarely has a good UI tied to it. It's easy to get software out when you skip UI design.
"If you are intentionally not looking for security holes because you consider it more important to get the product to market... "
The OSS community is different how?
"What would one use as bait, a coupla 40's or pure-grain? "
;)
You'll be happy to know that made me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, I woke up my nephew. Oops
"For example, phone companies are supposed to track where phone calls originate (for 911 dispatchers, for example). That's not going to be possible with VoIP."
I don't follow your logic here. Even if that's true today (though another poster disputed that), it's not like the technology isn't there.
"Correction: Retro Studios is 1st party. Nintendo bought them out 100% about halfway through Metroid Prime development."
I appreciate the clarification.
"But if you go into the game expecting anything remotely like an FPS, you're going to be sorely disappointed. If you try to play the game like a Metroid game, then the controls are damn near perfect."
You know, I have it, but haven't had time to tinker with it. I'll make a note to examine it.
Thanks!
"Ultimately, could Microsoft be blamed for these viruses? After all, if they didn't miss these bugs..."
You do realize that the people who program for Microsoft are normal everyday mistake making humans, right? You also realize that somebody spent a great deal of time trying to find that exploit, right?
MS could be held responsible, but what would that really accomplish? MS can run around trying to do everything it can to make itself 'exploit-free', and somebody'll find a way to be obnoxious anyway. Chain letters come to mind. Socially engineered obnoxiousness.
Here's the problem, though. The same types of humans that write MS code also write Linux code. If a worm hits Windows and causes damage, and MS gets penalized for it, that sounds all great and cool and stuff because everybody hates Microsoft. Now, treating everybody fair and equal here, what happens when a defect in Linux allows for a worm to be just as mischevious? Worse, Linux is more commonly used in life or death situations, as opposed to a desktop intended to entertain. Tons of money could be on the line here. How would Linux be penalized? Given its decentralized nature, that could be unenforcable. However, if it was enforced, the community would have a nasty problem on their hands. If not, then the corps that use these OS's would be wondering if it's more valuable to have somebody accountable for the code they write. Boom, back to MS.
Think about what I've said. That's a can of worms you don't want to have opened.
"I for one welcome our new robot overlords! "
Ugh. The least you could have done was use a fresh Futurama quote.
"...he turned to the Czech ambassador and instructed him to "bite my shiny metal ass."
Rumor has it that Asimo momentairly opened his moon roof to facilitate the request.
"Does this mean that protocol droids (a la C-3PO) are now a reality? "
No. But they're a plausibility. Sorry to sound nitpicky but we're a long way from getting to something C-3PO'esque. We haven't quite gotten the 'real time translation of spoken word to an alternative language' bit yet. It's being developed, but it's significantly harder to do than a walking robot.
Would I be surprised to see protocol droids 10 years from now? I'd be startled, but only because it would still feel a little soon. But it wouldn't be earth shattering.
I have to admit, though, I was damned impressed with some of those Asimo vids. $1 says Sony and Honda will get into a robot race before long.
"I've watched this damned robot climb stairs ever since they built it. Oooh. Ahhh. Up the stairs. Down the stairs. In slow motion, while fantasy techno music plays, as if this robot walking up the stairs is going to solve world hunger."
I don't seem to recall ending hunger as the mission of this robot. While you're thinking of reasons not to like this thing, I've been a little more productive. In a few years, these things will be visiting disaster sites looking for survivors. They've already got robots doing that today, however a sure-footed humanoid design would be far more maneuverable. It also occurs to me that care for the disadvantaged (paralysis? multiplesclerosis? amptuee?) could be rendered.
"Sure, if a damned robot does it it's special. Will we cheer and marvel when they take all our jobs?"
Funny. Despite all the automation performed in the last century, we're still employed. The fact of the matter is that human judgement is the core of just about any job out there.
Robots are coming. You can hold a gun and fight, or you can use your brain and cook up a useful solution.
As soon as a gaydar jammer is built.
"Sadly the robot ambassador was then heard to say "Hand over your flesh, we demand it" before exploding the nuclear bomb in his head. Damn multi-LED faced monsters."
Moments before, somebody had stuck a refrigerator magnet to its head and it started singing folk songs.
"What defines a "humanoid robot"? How much do you have to mimick a human to receive this classification? "
Whatever it was, it was recently altered so that Al Gore could run for president.
"In this game, role playing is a very key concept in creating the best player you can, and this is what is keeping people interest."
That's something that can kill the games industry. Get too immersed in one game, and you're not buying a bunch of others.
I don't think this is a generalization that anybody can make. Some like me are gonna want to play the "I can hop in and hop out quickly" games, and others like you are going to want to play the "I want to explore everything I can about this" type of game.
Frankly, I am a bit turned off at buying some games because I don't want to spend that much time coming to grips with them. I don't want to go around remapping keys or figuring out if jump is a or b.
Know what? I think I really miss playing arcade games.
Metroid Prime wasn't Nintendo, it was a 3rd party developer. Uh.. Retro Studios I believe.
And you're right. Wind Waker is awesome. I hated Zelda 64 but WW made me enjoy the franchise again.
Hmm I dunno if complicated is the word I'd use. I do feel, though, that not enough attention is paid to the UI in many cases. I remember when Zelda 64 came out, I was shocked that Link would jump automatically just by walking to the edge. No more jump button. *Whew* I was happy about that. No more worrying about hitting the button at the right time.
I think Nintendo is one of the few companies who watches somebody play and says "What are the common mistakes they are making? What can we do to alleviate them?"
"You're not funny. Actually, you kinda sound like a fag. "
Last time anybody called me a fag was when I was perched above the flag with a railgun.
Relax folks. It was just Chief Quimby delivering an assignment to the Inspector.
Nobody calls me you insensitive clod.
" The fact that it requires service destroys any value. "
Right.
"Between their broken business model (selling hardware that forces you to pay monthly fees for unnecessary service, and leaving you with a useless piece of garbage when they finally die), and cable and satellite providers coming up with PVR hardware for free plus a monthly fee that's cheaper than TIVOs, I'm surprised they still exist."
They provide a kick ass service and you're surprised they still exist?
"So, ignorance of the law SHOULD BE an excuse. "
There are probably some cases where it is. Have you ever read that site that has the obscure laws that the US has in some states? No examples immediately pop into mind, but they're non sensical. Imagine getting busted because you named your Poodle Ivan. Okay, that's not an example of anything that's really happened, but some of the laws really are that ridiculous.
However, there's the whole "common sense, you should have known it was wrong" factor that comes into play. There may not be a law that specifically says you cannot download MP3s, but when you get something you haven't paid for, you should know that you're not allowed to do that. Right?
Frankly, I think there should be a happy medium. Some git broke out my car window the other night and stole my clothes for a business trip. I'd be livid if he got off because he didn't know that it was illegal to steal clothes that he had intended to return.
" The idea that someone can sneak into your office, use your copy machine to illegally copy and distribute a book, and then get you thrown into jail for up to five years and fined $250,000 per offense is utterly and completely unjust..."
Does the RIAA have tours of its offices?