...for now. It's only a matter of time. They'll probably play leap frog for a while. Although, the Hymn Proj guys haven't seemed to leap back ahead yet.
Ha! Given Sony's latest DRM & PR faux pas with the rootkit, I'd say I'm a little gun shy about pulling the trigger on downloading anything from those dorks.
Maybe the $8 is going toward their new legal fund?:-)
I think we, as members of the geek culture, are often jaded by the technical downsides to successfully marketed products and we always like to knock what's on top and point out the flaws. The market is a bit less demanding technically so let's set the issue of technical quality aside for just one moment (I'll come back to it in a moment).
For the past 20 years, the home computer (Mac, PC, or other) has gone from a geeky little gadget to a household necessity. The success of the Win-Tel marketshare owes most of its success to the price point to help ensure its status as ubiquitous. Windows PCs are everywhere on the planet--look at your security logs if you're not completely convinced. They nearly drove the Mac to extinction and succeeded in killing off OS/2, BeOS, Amiga, etc. into obscurity. But there was always the promise of the next version finally being better and bug free.
Lately, though, as gadgets have become more sophisticated and easier to use, the computer has actually become the stop gap between people and their digital bliss. Along comes Apple with its iPod--and applicance that does one thing very easily. It's a success.
I don't think Apple's status as a giant corporation with marketing power is the deal breaker--if that were true, the Mac would be much more prominent. I think the simplicity and product design is what consumers want.
The only people I ever hear bitch about the iPod are geeks who aren't afraid of buttons or Ogg/Vorbis.
There's something to be said about the computer and its peripherals being marketed as appliances. I think that's what most people want--a simple push-a-button Jetson's world that doesn't require tinkering or tweaking.
So, if the Open Source community wants to build a better iPod, they'd better figure out a way to beat the iPod on the simplicity front because 80% of the players purchased out there don't seem to care about the price point or features slashdotters bitch about.
Just an observation--maybe I'm being master of the obvious here...
I remember back in the 1970s when there were just 3-5 channels that we could get on TV. We were pretty much stuck with whatever came in best with our copper hangers and aluminum foil. NBC, CBS, and ABC all vied for the coveted ratings and they each had captive audiences that had to watch their advertising to see what happened next on their favorite show or movie of the week.
That was the OLD way. Today, we have a consumer base that is wanting to use pick and choose their programming a la carte. Not only that, but we want it more and more through our computers. Some are willing to pay for it instead of dealing with advertising.
We're going through a major shift in media and ABC, CBS, NBC, et. al. are starting to feel it as much as NYTimes and the other on-line newspapers. I really don't think they know exactly what to do so they just repackage instead of re-inventing the way they program and deal with revenue.
The aging advertising revenue model has been completely circumvented by the advent of TiVO and downloadable content. Advertisers pay big bucks for the exposure but now they don't feel they should pay as much if the consumers skip through the commercials or block them altogether.
So now we have an internet version of the same broadcast as NBC jumps on the bandwagon. The thing is, it's just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The big broadcasters and newspapers are going to have to rethink the way they do business or they're going to have to learn to endure a shrinking marketshare.
AP and Reuters news blurbs read by an overpaid talking head is very 20th century. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of years.
What sort of nonsense article is that? I mean, so what? It's silly to infer that they were so far ahead of their time. They got an butt-load of mail and they answered it like ANYONE else who gets lots of mail--electronic or post.
Albert Einstein probably received letters like this:
Dear Albert,
Your theory of relativity rocks, dude. You da man. I've got some good absinthe and some opium. Maybe we can hang out some time?
Joe Nobody
Would you answer that? (Well, some of you would...)
It used to be that everyone admired and respected the IT guy because they were smart and knew how to make the computers work. Now we're treated like bus boys, janitors, and anyone wearing a paper hat. Data Janitors.
"Hey--I spilled my bits. Come sweep them up--and hurry."
Considering the source, so what? Dvorak does nothing but trash Apple. Everyone of his articles is Microsoft slanted. He's basically a MS Fanboy who probably gets paid well on the side by MS to say nice things.
After years of Dvorak's predictions of doom and gloom about the demise of beleagured Apple, he's probably just pissed that his predictions weren't only wrong, but that Apple's enjoying some success. So he does what everyone else does--blame it on the media.
In the event of vehicle malfunction, all contestants, or their estates, are responsible for re-filling any impact craters and any reforestation required by local, state of federal laws. The League will not be obligated to collect any remains so individual race teams will be required to have on hand a regulation spatula.
Slashdot Mirror
All your $sys$ are belong to us.
...for now. It's only a matter of time. They'll probably play leap frog for a while. Although, the Hymn Proj guys haven't seemed to leap back ahead yet.
Of all the patents Microsoft has applied for, I think it's pretty funny that they didn't even try to touch this one.
As far as Apple's new patent goes, I wonder if the Tamper Resistence will be as resilient as Fairplay? he he
Germans? Cheerful? That is, indeed, funny.
His girlfriend gave up her, toe.
That's not TV, that's a freakin' hologram.
Warp speed, Mr. Sulu--and don't look at me like that...I was really drunk and the tribbles had me confused.
Ha! Given Sony's latest DRM & PR faux pas with the rootkit, I'd say I'm a little gun shy about pulling the trigger on downloading anything from those dorks.
:-)
Maybe the $8 is going toward their new legal fund?
I think we, as members of the geek culture, are often jaded by the technical downsides to successfully marketed products and we always like to knock what's on top and point out the flaws. The market is a bit less demanding technically so let's set the issue of technical quality aside for just one moment (I'll come back to it in a moment).
For the past 20 years, the home computer (Mac, PC, or other) has gone from a geeky little gadget to a household necessity. The success of the Win-Tel marketshare owes most of its success to the price point to help ensure its status as ubiquitous. Windows PCs are everywhere on the planet--look at your security logs if you're not completely convinced. They nearly drove the Mac to extinction and succeeded in killing off OS/2, BeOS, Amiga, etc. into obscurity. But there was always the promise of the next version finally being better and bug free.
Lately, though, as gadgets have become more sophisticated and easier to use, the computer has actually become the stop gap between people and their digital bliss. Along comes Apple with its iPod--and applicance that does one thing very easily. It's a success.
I don't think Apple's status as a giant corporation with marketing power is the deal breaker--if that were true, the Mac would be much more prominent. I think the simplicity and product design is what consumers want.
The only people I ever hear bitch about the iPod are geeks who aren't afraid of buttons or Ogg/Vorbis.
There's something to be said about the computer and its peripherals being marketed as appliances. I think that's what most people want--a simple push-a-button Jetson's world that doesn't require tinkering or tweaking.
So, if the Open Source community wants to build a better iPod, they'd better figure out a way to beat the iPod on the simplicity front because 80% of the players purchased out there don't seem to care about the price point or features slashdotters bitch about.
Just an observation--maybe I'm being master of the obvious here...
I remember back in the 1970s when there were just 3-5 channels that we could get on TV. We were pretty much stuck with whatever came in best with our copper hangers and aluminum foil. NBC, CBS, and ABC all vied for the coveted ratings and they each had captive audiences that had to watch their advertising to see what happened next on their favorite show or movie of the week.
That was the OLD way. Today, we have a consumer base that is wanting to use pick and choose their programming a la carte. Not only that, but we want it more and more through our computers. Some are willing to pay for it instead of dealing with advertising.
We're going through a major shift in media and ABC, CBS, NBC, et. al. are starting to feel it as much as NYTimes and the other on-line newspapers. I really don't think they know exactly what to do so they just repackage instead of re-inventing the way they program and deal with revenue.
The aging advertising revenue model has been completely circumvented by the advent of TiVO and downloadable content. Advertisers pay big bucks for the exposure but now they don't feel they should pay as much if the consumers skip through the commercials or block them altogether.
So now we have an internet version of the same broadcast as NBC jumps on the bandwagon. The thing is, it's just re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The big broadcasters and newspapers are going to have to rethink the way they do business or they're going to have to learn to endure a shrinking marketshare.
AP and Reuters news blurbs read by an overpaid talking head is very 20th century. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of years.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to walk without rhythm so I don't attract the worm...
(ducks)
What sort of nonsense article is that? I mean, so what? It's silly to infer that they were so far ahead of their time. They got an butt-load of mail and they answered it like ANYONE else who gets lots of mail--electronic or post.
Albert Einstein probably received letters like this:
Dear Albert,
Your theory of relativity rocks, dude. You da man. I've got some good absinthe and some opium. Maybe we can hang out some time?
Joe Nobody
Would you answer that? (Well, some of you would...)
Any fragrance that rhymes with "poop" is probably not good.
It used to be that everyone admired and respected the IT guy because they were smart and knew how to make the computers work. Now we're treated like bus boys, janitors, and anyone wearing a paper hat. Data Janitors.
"Hey--I spilled my bits. Come sweep them up--and hurry."
What does QFT and QFMFT mean? --no really. I'm familiar with STFU, RTFM/A but those are new to me.
heh--yeah. just like that :)
Just like all the guys on ESPN were trashing the Astros in May when they were 15 & 30.
Who's laughing now?
mmmmwwhwhahahahahaha!
Considering the source, so what? Dvorak does nothing but trash Apple. Everyone of his articles is Microsoft slanted. He's basically a MS Fanboy who probably gets paid well on the side by MS to say nice things.
After years of Dvorak's predictions of doom and gloom about the demise of beleagured Apple, he's probably just pissed that his predictions weren't only wrong, but that Apple's enjoying some success. So he does what everyone else does--blame it on the media.
go Astros!
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? (And how many does it take to get sued for sexual harassment?)
Does that head gear include a looping recording of Beethoven's 9th Symphony?
Hmm...let's compare: Clockwork Orange to Chinese Internet Addict Clicnic
How in the world is that off-topic? They must be giving mod points to the engineering types again. They have no sense of humor.
....when you're 0wn3d: all your bass are belong to us!
I hope it's as good as the bots in UT2K4--those things kick my ass when you crank them up!
Oops. I should have linked the roosterteeth website so everyone would get the joke...
How about "Red vs Blue"? ...oh, wait...
In the event of vehicle malfunction, all contestants, or their estates, are responsible for re-filling any impact craters and any reforestation required by local, state of federal laws. The League will not be obligated to collect any remains so individual race teams will be required to have on hand a regulation spatula.
Maybe I could mod this thing for my PowerBook G4 before I hard boil my nadz...again.
It shouldn't be a problem for legit downloads, should it?