Man, this Jackito almost made me weep browsing the PDA's website. This thing is incredible, and is definitely an incredible feat of engineering. But the only thing is, does anyone else think this is too good to be true? Weeks on a AA battery, very fast, easy to use, cost cutting to $100 after 1 million units. It almost sounds too good to be true to me. Lets all hope this is for real and not vaporware like the OQO.
Rendevous is some what like making each computer a DNS/DHCP/Directory server, however that's not completely accurate. Rendevous exists as an alternative to those servers for use in environments where either DNS/DHCP is not available, or is not advantageous to configure.
A prime example of Rendevous is two Powerbooks in a cafe, both with Airport wireless. You can set up an Ad Hoc wireless network between these computers, and they will auto configure their IP's and other information so that they can talk to each other. Then open up any Rendevous enabled app and you'll be able to see the other users resources, i.e. bookmarks, printers, music, etc.
So Rendevous is not designed to replace DNS/DHCP, but merely to find a way for network configuration when there is no established network structure. Rendevous also works on networks where DNS and DHCP are available, without any change. This is really the beauty of it, because it can determine what configuration is necessary and do whatever needed to get the computers networked, all transparently!
Maybe the watermarks that they are including in some films could also be ads for popcorn and soda so that all a pirated copy would show was snack ads, and the consumers would get a nice dose of subliminal advertising ala Josie and the Pussycats.
What kind of provisions does the MPAA have, most likely under the DMCA, to prosecute people who are caught recording movies in the theaters? Will these people go to jail, or just get a slap on the wrist?
This seems like a rather harsh approach to take against LinuxWorld, and somewhat childish as well. How do we know that Microsoft is specifically paying for advertisement on LinuxToday, and not just blanket advertising on internet.com?
And then does that mean that we should boycott/. because they often display M$ ads? Or maybe anti-Linux people should boycott Windows-centric sites when they feature advertising from RedHat or Sun.
Seems to me like the best option to take would be to urge LinuxToday to not support M$ advertising if they are indeed given a choice on what they advertise, instead of just boycotting them out of anger.
My college has something similar in place in a few of our bigger lecture halls and computer labs. They are mostly for "protecting the computer equipment" in those rooms, but they are able to be viewed by anyone on the Campus subnet. One of my friends was in a lab one day and someone IM'ed her to say "I'm watching you!" It turned out to be someone who was pulling a joke on her, but she was somewhat bothered that it was easy for another student to watch her while she was in class. I'm not totally against cameras, but I believe that they need to be really secure and not accessible to those who don't need to watch them.
I know that if my child was in a school with online webcams, I would want to know that there weren't pedophiles or kidnappers looking at my kids in class, that could be a really big security threat!
If you look towards the bottom of the MSNBC page linked in the story, there is a form that allows you to submit your spam stories, which asks for your name, hometown, phone number and e-mail address. Now what does MSNBC need with that information, in relation to your experiences with spam? Seems fishy to me...
A glance @ SCO's site shows that their SCO Forum is coming up soon in Las Vegas. I think that everyone in the area who is a/.er or Linux user should descend on SCO in Las Vegas and hold a massive protest. I bet that would really generate some headlines, and show that we Linux users are just geeks that SCO can push over because they're "important corporate types"!
I read in a recent MacWorld issue, in an article about upgrading your Mac, that iDVD is locked down so that you can only use it with DVD-R/RW drives that are installed on the internal IDE bus. This makes it easy to upgrade a desktop Mac to have a DVD-R/RW drive that works w/ iDVD, all you have to do is buy an internal drive.
I personally have no idea where to get a Superdrive for a laptop, as I bet that Apple's Superdrive is only available through one OEM, because of it's compact size and engineering w/ the Powerbook line. If anyone does find where to buy a Superdrive that you can install yourself, I'd be interested to know also!
Two of the ideas that Microsoft presented at this expo, both of which are mentioned in the Seattle Times article, are ideas or inventions that have already been invented by other people!
"Robie the Robot" appears to be nothing more than an Evolution ER1 Robotics kit, which Evolution Robotics has been selling for quite a while now. It is a robotics kit that allows you to take an existing laptop and hook it up to some motors and a webcam and control through some command line API's or a nice GUI Evolution has built.
The American Sign Language translation glove was actually introduced at the 2002 Intel Science Talent Search competition by Ryan Patterson of Grand Junction, CO. Patterson's glove uses custom designed electronics to detect hand and finger movements and translate those movements from ASL into their English forms, letters and punctuation.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Microsoft or saying that they are ripping off other people's ideas, but if they are trying to bill these items as new research developed at MS R&D labs that's wrong. If they are merely taking these ideas and refining them for future use in the consumer/professional world, then I'm sure that these concepts will benefit from having Microsoft's resources. I'm merely trying to point out that these ideas aren't new in any way, and they have already been conceived and engineered by others, who should recieve all due credit.
Microsoft charging for Windows Updates is analogous to Ford charging their customers extra for basic safety features which should be free in the first place! What if Ford told you that there was a fatal flaw in your seatbelt system that could allow you to be thrown from the car in a crash, and that the problem was a result of poor engineering on their behalf, and that you had to pay out of your own pocket to fix it! If that happened the government would surely intervene and force Ford to provide the fix for free. I can't belive that Microsoft has the gall to even consider charging us to fix the holes in their systems that are there because of their own fault!
I think one of the very troubling thing about this and all the other RIAA subpoena stories, is how easy it is for the RIAA to get their hands on your filesharing activities and identity. All they have to do is send a subpoena to Comcast, etc. and they get your name, address and all the pertinent information they need to sue you!
At least a few organizations have chosen to fight back, i.e. MIT. But others such as Comcast seem all too willing to hand over data which can get their subscribers sued! Sooner or later the RIAA is going to bankrupt/scare all the people paying their ISP's so their private information can be given away. Surely that has to affect the ISP's business at some point, isn't that the logical conclusion?I think companies should take a more proactive stance towards the RIAA, because these lawsuits are going to affect them eventually also!
I agree, it really depends on who is lecturing, and how engaging they want to be. I've had some professors who are really boring, and I have to try my hardest to concentrate and not fall asleep. But I have had a few professors who work hard to engage the class and pose thought provoking questions, while making the material entertaining. A specific example I remember is my Physics 1 professor coming wearing a rubber Einstein mask to lecture on relativity, complete with a fake German accent. The entire class paid attention during that lecture, and I think everyone got some useful information out of it as well.
Hmmm, I read this guy's post complaining about the speed of his Mac and something seemed very familiar about it, so I did some searching, and it turns out that an Anonymous Coward posted almost the exact same post on the recent/. article about the new SGI Workstations.
This guy is just going around posting his form letter about how other architectures suck, only changing small details between each post.
Is that a bad thing? Lycoris primarily caters to customers who have no Linux experience whatsoever, and are looking to learn or use Linux as their primary operating system. If Lycoris' Tablet OS looks and acts like Windows XP, it reduces the learning curve for new users, and helps them get better acquainted with Linux. Besides, it's still KDE and the end user can customize their desktop however they wish, Lycoris is just giving new users a friendlier environment.
I think a lot of people complain about the way in which many distributions copy Windows XP for their default UI's, but I think it is a great step towards helping the user become accustomed to using Linux.
Besides, there isn't a law that dictates you have to use Lycoris...If you really want a Linux tablet PC I'm sure there are other projects out there, or that it would be pretty easy to customize a distribution to run on a Tablet PC.
I agree with you that the iTunes Store will never match the vast collections of music amassed by Napster/Kazza/P2P users, but I do say that it is a step in the right direction. I know that the library selection is limited right now, but Apple is adding more files all the time and continuing to improve the experience.
I know that the iTunes store won't always deliver, and sometimes I may end up going to those 6 record stores or Kazaa, but I was very pleased with the ease and convenience that Apple put into the iTunes Store.
My main point is thus, the RIAA needs to stop suing college students and threatening the general population and instead embrace the Internet and the advances it provides! I find it funny that a large portion of bands that support MP3's and file sharing are indie bands. They are the ones who realize that file sharing can help them gain the notoriety that they need, and readily provide MP3 copies and exclusive songs through the Internet and P2P networks.
It is crucial that the music industry accept the Internet instead of suing everyone they can in order to keep their monopoly on music, which is in essence common knowledge. And that is why I applaud Apple, because they have showed innovation once again and shown that there are more solutions to this problem than lawyers.
I couldn't agree more! The iTunes Music Store is awesome, I think once it hits Windows the landscape of online file sharing will be permanently changed. The other night I was looking for a CD from a smaller independent band, and a search of 6 record stores in my city turned up nothing. I used a friend's Mac the next day, and within 5 minutes, I had bought, downloaded and burned the CD I was looking for.
It's a shame the RIAA is so inflexible and that they are still trying to enforce their draconian system of rule upon us. The Internet is changing the way music is listened to, and if they don't figure that out, they're going to alienate the entire popluation of music-loving people!
I love my laptop so much, I couldn't even think of having a desktop computer! I love being able to go mobile wherever I am, and with a wireless card, my laptop is all I need. Sure, it's slower than a lot of desktops, but most desktops are overpowered for most uses anyway.
Steve Jobs: "This is the year of the laptop!"
But the whole reasoning of the system is that it is "hack-proof" by ground control having no control over the soft-wall system. If air traffic control can override a soft-wall then the system suddenly becomes much less "hack-proof"
Let me clarify a bit more, since my previous post was not exactly clear. I'm not throwing out my laptop just because I want a nice small Apple. I've had this computer for 2+ years now, and the harddrive is completely full (only 500 MB of 10 GB left), the CDRW/DVD drive won't read DVD's or write CD's, it will only read plain old CD-ROM media. And I am not throwing all my money away on a computer, I have a full ride to my school, in fact I will be getting a nice fat scholarship rebate that I will use to pay the bills for the next 2 semesters.
So I'm not just buying an Apple because I feel like it, but because my laptop is old and broken and I have wanted an Apple laptop for about 5 years now, and I am going to jump on the opportunity to buy one. Sorry if my previous post made me seem frivolous with my resources.
I would think that various countries in the Caribbean would want WiFi access as open and accessible as possible, just think of the tourism possibilities. What slashdotter wouldn't want to sit on the beach on a beautiful island while having WiFi access to keep up with the latest/.? I think the governments should make it easy for companies to install WiFi networks, and then market them for reasonable fees to tourists. That would really boost their economy!
I second that Apple would never eliminate the iBook, as it is a great option for budget-conscious students! I have a Sony VAIO right now with a 15.2" screen, and all I want to do is get rid of it! It is a pain in the butt to lug around my campus all the time! I'm working all summer long so that I can afford a nice iBook, or maybe a 12" AlBook, but the iBook is much more likely because of price reasons. If Apple were to EOL the iBook line they would be eliminating a huge intro market, and with the Switch campaign and everything else, I can't see them doing that!
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Man, this Jackito almost made me weep browsing the PDA's website. This thing is incredible, and is definitely an incredible feat of engineering. But the only thing is, does anyone else think this is too good to be true? Weeks on a AA battery, very fast, easy to use, cost cutting to $100 after 1 million units. It almost sounds too good to be true to me. Lets all hope this is for real and not vaporware like the OQO.
A prime example of Rendevous is two Powerbooks in a cafe, both with Airport wireless. You can set up an Ad Hoc wireless network between these computers, and they will auto configure their IP's and other information so that they can talk to each other. Then open up any Rendevous enabled app and you'll be able to see the other users resources, i.e. bookmarks, printers, music, etc.
So Rendevous is not designed to replace DNS/DHCP, but merely to find a way for network configuration when there is no established network structure. Rendevous also works on networks where DNS and DHCP are available, without any change. This is really the beauty of it, because it can determine what configuration is necessary and do whatever needed to get the computers networked, all transparently!
Maybe the watermarks that they are including in some films could also be ads for popcorn and soda so that all a pirated copy would show was snack ads, and the consumers would get a nice dose of subliminal advertising ala Josie and the Pussycats.
What kind of provisions does the MPAA have, most likely under the DMCA, to prosecute people who are caught recording movies in the theaters? Will these people go to jail, or just get a slap on the wrist?
And then does that mean that we should boycott /. because they often display M$ ads? Or maybe anti-Linux people should boycott Windows-centric sites when they feature advertising from RedHat or Sun.
Seems to me like the best option to take would be to urge LinuxToday to not support M$ advertising if they are indeed given a choice on what they advertise, instead of just boycotting them out of anger.
I know that if my child was in a school with online webcams, I would want to know that there weren't pedophiles or kidnappers looking at my kids in class, that could be a really big security threat!
If you look towards the bottom of the MSNBC page linked in the story, there is a form that allows you to submit your spam stories, which asks for your name, hometown, phone number and e-mail address. Now what does MSNBC need with that information, in relation to your experiences with spam? Seems fishy to me...
A glance @ SCO's site shows that their SCO Forum is coming up soon in Las Vegas. I think that everyone in the area who is a /.er or Linux user should descend on SCO in Las Vegas and hold a massive protest. I bet that would really generate some headlines, and show that we Linux users are just geeks that SCO can push over because they're "important corporate types"!
I personally have no idea where to get a Superdrive for a laptop, as I bet that Apple's Superdrive is only available through one OEM, because of it's compact size and engineering w/ the Powerbook line. If anyone does find where to buy a Superdrive that you can install yourself, I'd be interested to know also!
"Robie the Robot" appears to be nothing more than an Evolution ER1 Robotics kit, which Evolution Robotics has been selling for quite a while now. It is a robotics kit that allows you to take an existing laptop and hook it up to some motors and a webcam and control through some command line API's or a nice GUI Evolution has built.
The American Sign Language translation glove was actually introduced at the 2002 Intel Science Talent Search competition by Ryan Patterson of Grand Junction, CO. Patterson's glove uses custom designed electronics to detect hand and finger movements and translate those movements from ASL into their English forms, letters and punctuation.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing Microsoft or saying that they are ripping off other people's ideas, but if they are trying to bill these items as new research developed at MS R&D labs that's wrong. If they are merely taking these ideas and refining them for future use in the consumer/professional world, then I'm sure that these concepts will benefit from having Microsoft's resources. I'm merely trying to point out that these ideas aren't new in any way, and they have already been conceived and engineered by others, who should recieve all due credit.
Microsoft charging for Windows Updates is analogous to Ford charging their customers extra for basic safety features which should be free in the first place! What if Ford told you that there was a fatal flaw in your seatbelt system that could allow you to be thrown from the car in a crash, and that the problem was a result of poor engineering on their behalf, and that you had to pay out of your own pocket to fix it! If that happened the government would surely intervene and force Ford to provide the fix for free. I can't belive that Microsoft has the gall to even consider charging us to fix the holes in their systems that are there because of their own fault!
At least a few organizations have chosen to fight back, i.e. MIT. But others such as Comcast seem all too willing to hand over data which can get their subscribers sued! Sooner or later the RIAA is going to bankrupt/scare all the people paying their ISP's so their private information can be given away. Surely that has to affect the ISP's business at some point, isn't that the logical conclusion?I think companies should take a more proactive stance towards the RIAA, because these lawsuits are going to affect them eventually also!
I agree, it really depends on who is lecturing, and how engaging they want to be. I've had some professors who are really boring, and I have to try my hardest to concentrate and not fall asleep. But I have had a few professors who work hard to engage the class and pose thought provoking questions, while making the material entertaining. A specific example I remember is my Physics 1 professor coming wearing a rubber Einstein mask to lecture on relativity, complete with a fake German accent. The entire class paid attention during that lecture, and I think everyone got some useful information out of it as well.
This guy is just going around posting his form letter about how other architectures suck, only changing small details between each post.
How Trollish!
I think a lot of people complain about the way in which many distributions copy Windows XP for their default UI's, but I think it is a great step towards helping the user become accustomed to using Linux.
Besides, there isn't a law that dictates you have to use Lycoris...If you really want a Linux tablet PC I'm sure there are other projects out there, or that it would be pretty easy to customize a distribution to run on a Tablet PC.
I know that the iTunes store won't always deliver, and sometimes I may end up going to those 6 record stores or Kazaa, but I was very pleased with the ease and convenience that Apple put into the iTunes Store.
My main point is thus, the RIAA needs to stop suing college students and threatening the general population and instead embrace the Internet and the advances it provides! I find it funny that a large portion of bands that support MP3's and file sharing are indie bands. They are the ones who realize that file sharing can help them gain the notoriety that they need, and readily provide MP3 copies and exclusive songs through the Internet and P2P networks.
It is crucial that the music industry accept the Internet instead of suing everyone they can in order to keep their monopoly on music, which is in essence common knowledge. And that is why I applaud Apple, because they have showed innovation once again and shown that there are more solutions to this problem than lawyers.
It's a shame the RIAA is so inflexible and that they are still trying to enforce their draconian system of rule upon us. The Internet is changing the way music is listened to, and if they don't figure that out, they're going to alienate the entire popluation of music-loving people!
Check out the EFF's Share The Music Campaign and help support them so that the RIAA doesn't win this battle!
I love my laptop so much, I couldn't even think of having a desktop computer! I love being able to go mobile wherever I am, and with a wireless card, my laptop is all I need. Sure, it's slower than a lot of desktops, but most desktops are overpowered for most uses anyway. Steve Jobs: "This is the year of the laptop!"
But the whole reasoning of the system is that it is "hack-proof" by ground control having no control over the soft-wall system. If air traffic control can override a soft-wall then the system suddenly becomes much less "hack-proof"
I can just see it now... "I can't let you do that Dave"
Let me clarify a bit more, since my previous post was not exactly clear. I'm not throwing out my laptop just because I want a nice small Apple. I've had this computer for 2+ years now, and the harddrive is completely full (only 500 MB of 10 GB left), the CDRW/DVD drive won't read DVD's or write CD's, it will only read plain old CD-ROM media. And I am not throwing all my money away on a computer, I have a full ride to my school, in fact I will be getting a nice fat scholarship rebate that I will use to pay the bills for the next 2 semesters. So I'm not just buying an Apple because I feel like it, but because my laptop is old and broken and I have wanted an Apple laptop for about 5 years now, and I am going to jump on the opportunity to buy one. Sorry if my previous post made me seem frivolous with my resources.
I would think that various countries in the Caribbean would want WiFi access as open and accessible as possible, just think of the tourism possibilities. What slashdotter wouldn't want to sit on the beach on a beautiful island while having WiFi access to keep up with the latest /.? I think the governments should make it easy for companies to install WiFi networks, and then market them for reasonable fees to tourists. That would really boost their economy!
I second that Apple would never eliminate the iBook, as it is a great option for budget-conscious students! I have a Sony VAIO right now with a 15.2" screen, and all I want to do is get rid of it! It is a pain in the butt to lug around my campus all the time! I'm working all summer long so that I can afford a nice iBook, or maybe a 12" AlBook, but the iBook is much more likely because of price reasons. If Apple were to EOL the iBook line they would be eliminating a huge intro market, and with the Switch campaign and everything else, I can't see them doing that!