It is a very nice project and hopefully, it will be successful. But there is no point in making comparisons until *after* the project has proven to be successful. How can one say that a project that has not succeeded yet was cheaper than another one that already passed with flying colors? This does not make sense.
If Isidore Ducasse, Comte de Lautréamont were in high school today, he would probably be jailed. And countless other precocious writers who are now considered to have written some of the best literature.
... and I have been exposed, for many years in France, to some of the best chocolate on the planet. For example, try Recchiuti in San Francisco, but there are others.
As for Hershey's, well... no offense but I would not call that chocolate.
The most ironical part is that some of the best 911 footage was filmed by french filmmakers who happened to be there that day, doing a piece on NY firemen (and it was shown on US TV to high acclaim, as you may remember).
Only an anonymous coward would hide to call other liars. I know it is a waste of time to respond to anonymous cowards but I will do it anyway. No, I did not point out what you say but that it has not been determined yet whether those particular magazines were indeed promoting illegality in their ads, but they may be. And yes, cockfighting is indeed illegal, as you suggest, in the vast majority of states. Who cares what the HSUS stands for? If they have a point in that case, and the courts will decide, not you or me, then case closed.
Whether you support the Humane Society or not, animal fighting activities, and the promotion thereof, are illegal. That is a fact. Would Amazon consider selling child porn materials on their site? Of course not. Why? Because that would be illegal, and not because that would be amoral (although that would indeed be as well to everybody but child molesters). It is only if Amazon were to remove materials because they promote amoral activities that they would be interfering with customers' rights to decide what is amoral to them. But if materials promote illegality, should Amazon not remove them? Now, it remains to be determined in court whether these materials indeed explicitly promote illegal activities.
It is very hard to start a new technology company and make it profitable. It affects your entire life, both on the business side and on the personal side. For each company that succeeds, many fail but you do not hear about them, of course. The vast majority of Google employees are probably less interested in going through that than in doing what they love to do everyday in an environment that provides for most of their needs. So much easier...
The reason why Google is in cahoots with the CIA is simply that George W. likes to use the Google, so he thought hey, why don't the CIA use it too to find Osama. Maybe we can't find him because he's hiding in the Internets.
I met Ted Nelson on a few occasions, at the Xanadu offices on California Avenue in Palo Alto, and also on his houseboat in Sausalito. He is a cool guy and a visionary. I can say that his vision has greatly influenced me and countless others. What Ted is *NOT* is someone who can create a product, and furthermore a product that would work for normal people. As someone suggested earlier, Ted is interested in doing stuff that works for himself, not so much for others. So what? That is not his role to be a product designer. That is not where he can contribute to the world. Where he can contribute is by sharing his wacky visions from Planet Ted and influence those who live on Planet Earth and create new tools for normal people, by challenging established notions and making them think.
Looks like the patent is not assigned to a company so it must be entirely his. Now he just has to start the bidding war for assignment between Apple, Microsoft, and various other MP3 player makers.
One should start by writing the documentation for classes and interfaces, including for properties and methods. Then, one should write procedural pseudocode in english (or similar language) for the body of each method, as comments. The final step should be to write the corresponding Java code below the pseudocode. The biggest issue with that approach is documentation maintenance, which requires a great deal of discipline. But as they say, garbage in, garbage out.
that Slashdot created a top level icon for french bashing subjects? This is long overdue. Bill has his own Slashdot icon, so sacrebleu why can't Jacques?
Glad to see that not everyone here on Slashdot is a stressed out geek intent on flaming. You obviously got the point I was -not very well, admittedly- trying to make. Oh well, I keep coming back to Slashdot for the level-5 funny comments, just like I keep reading the NewYorker every week for the hilarious cartoons. That is where I think Slashdot's true value lies.
I think that most people who read my post missed the point I was trying to make.
The criticism was not directed at this very nice piece of software or its talented publisher; your reply is appreciated, by the way. It was more directed at myself and the state of computing at large.
What do we do with our computers and what is the point of doing it? Why did I purchase a piece of software to create a database of stuff that I do not really need to own anyway.
Maybe I expected Alan Kay or some other luminary to post a reply. But I guess he has better things to do than reading Slashdot.
Oh well, just ignore me:-).
I guess you missed my point. I found the software to be well designed (a pretty application, as you say) and functional, just a waste of my time after all. I do not regret spending the money, just the time. Others may find it to be very useful to them.
I never said I did not like it, quite the opposite; it is nicely designed. I just said that I found it to be a waste of my time. Your experience may differ.
I have to admit that I bought the software because I am a Criterion collector and because the developers did a really nice job in terms of look and feel. So I scanned hundreds and hundreds of DVDs in there and now I can see them sitting on gorgeous virtual shelves on my fully loaded PowerBook G4. And I can pat myself in the back. And that is about it.
The fact that useless software (and products in general) that does not make you nicer, more knowledgeable, or more intelligent can generate so much revenue is beyond common sense. But the saddest part is that I am actually contributing to that trend.
Tired of all these people who spend their time producing patents just based on ideas while others are doing the hard work of implementing similar ideas without patenting, only to be sued later. Tired also of all the lawyers and organizations who collect patents in order to sue implementors, which is an awfully selfish purpose that is highly detrimental to the common good.
Having an idea is easy. Having an idea and implementing it is what deserves credit. You could still obtain a patent just based on an idea but anyone who implements it before you do would be exempt from licensing it from you. And if you buy a patent, you would not be able to collect money unless you also provide an implementation.
In the end, this would be beneficial to the general public.
... you make a ton of money with your software. So go ahead and write it. Patent defensively, for your own protection and if you can afford it. But nobody in their right business mind is going to sue you unless you have created an untapped $100-million market with your new software.
People in business are very greedy, but they are usually not mean just for the sake of being mean (e.g. shutting you down for absolutely no business reason). Why would they waste their energy that way instead of generating wealth? Only the kind of small guy who thinks he invented everything would try to sue you but could he afford it?
And if you are infringing on existing patents, when you are making a ton of money, just license those patents and you're fine. Or sell your company. Whatever works best for you. It's like taxes: do not complain if you are paying a lot of taxes; it just means you are making a lot of money.
Slashdot Mirror
This is a closely guarded secret that I shall reveal to you now that ... NOOOOOOO!!! :::THUD::: Aaaaaaa... :::sound of dying Pac-Man:::
Cliff jumping...
It is a very nice project and hopefully, it will be successful. But there is no point in making comparisons until *after* the project has proven to be successful. How can one say that a project that has not succeeded yet was cheaper than another one that already passed with flying colors? This does not make sense.
If Isidore Ducasse, Comte de Lautréamont were in high school today, he would probably be jailed. And countless other precocious writers who are now considered to have written some of the best literature.
... and I have been exposed, for many years in France, to some of the best chocolate on the planet. For example, try Recchiuti in San Francisco, but there are others. As for Hershey's, well... no offense but I would not call that chocolate.
The most ironical part is that some of the best 911 footage was filmed by french filmmakers who happened to be there that day, doing a piece on NY firemen (and it was shown on US TV to high acclaim, as you may remember).
Only an anonymous coward would hide to call other liars. I know it is a waste of time to respond to anonymous cowards but I will do it anyway. No, I did not point out what you say but that it has not been determined yet whether those particular magazines were indeed promoting illegality in their ads, but they may be. And yes, cockfighting is indeed illegal, as you suggest, in the vast majority of states. Who cares what the HSUS stands for? If they have a point in that case, and the courts will decide, not you or me, then case closed.
Whether you support the Humane Society or not, animal fighting activities, and the promotion thereof, are illegal. That is a fact. Would Amazon consider selling child porn materials on their site? Of course not. Why? Because that would be illegal, and not because that would be amoral (although that would indeed be as well to everybody but child molesters). It is only if Amazon were to remove materials because they promote amoral activities that they would be interfering with customers' rights to decide what is amoral to them. But if materials promote illegality, should Amazon not remove them? Now, it remains to be determined in court whether these materials indeed explicitly promote illegal activities.
... they give schoolchildren pirate copies of Vista on a USB stick, with Bill Gates' signature.
It is very hard to start a new technology company and make it profitable. It affects your entire life, both on the business side and on the personal side. For each company that succeeds, many fail but you do not hear about them, of course. The vast majority of Google employees are probably less interested in going through that than in doing what they love to do everyday in an environment that provides for most of their needs. So much easier...
Was that a serious assertion? At any rate, the XBox beats the PS3 hands down in that category, methinks...
The reason why Google is in cahoots with the CIA is simply that George W. likes to use the Google, so he thought hey, why don't the CIA use it too to find Osama. Maybe we can't find him because he's hiding in the Internets.
Check that one out, it's pretty scary. And the extras are great too (of course, coming from Criterion, no less...). http://criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=260
I met Ted Nelson on a few occasions, at the Xanadu offices on California Avenue in Palo Alto, and also on his houseboat in Sausalito. He is a cool guy and a visionary. I can say that his vision has greatly influenced me and countless others. What Ted is *NOT* is someone who can create a product, and furthermore a product that would work for normal people. As someone suggested earlier, Ted is interested in doing stuff that works for himself, not so much for others. So what? That is not his role to be a product designer. That is not where he can contribute to the world. Where he can contribute is by sharing his wacky visions from Planet Ted and influence those who live on Planet Earth and create new tools for normal people, by challenging established notions and making them think.
Looks like the patent is not assigned to a company so it must be entirely his. Now he just has to start the bidding war for assignment between Apple, Microsoft, and various other MP3 player makers.
One should start by writing the documentation for classes and interfaces, including for properties and methods. Then, one should write procedural pseudocode in english (or similar language) for the body of each method, as comments. The final step should be to write the corresponding Java code below the pseudocode. The biggest issue with that approach is documentation maintenance, which requires a great deal of discipline. But as they say, garbage in, garbage out.
http://www.criterionco.com/asp/release.asp?id=248
that Slashdot created a top level icon for french bashing subjects? This is long overdue. Bill has his own Slashdot icon, so sacrebleu why can't Jacques?
Glad to see that not everyone here on Slashdot is a stressed out geek intent on flaming. You obviously got the point I was -not very well, admittedly- trying to make. Oh well, I keep coming back to Slashdot for the level-5 funny comments, just like I keep reading the NewYorker every week for the hilarious cartoons. That is where I think Slashdot's true value lies.
I think that most people who read my post missed the point I was trying to make. The criticism was not directed at this very nice piece of software or its talented publisher; your reply is appreciated, by the way. It was more directed at myself and the state of computing at large. What do we do with our computers and what is the point of doing it? Why did I purchase a piece of software to create a database of stuff that I do not really need to own anyway. Maybe I expected Alan Kay or some other luminary to post a reply. But I guess he has better things to do than reading Slashdot. Oh well, just ignore me :-).
I guess you missed my point. I found the software to be well designed (a pretty application, as you say) and functional, just a waste of my time after all. I do not regret spending the money, just the time. Others may find it to be very useful to them.
I never said I did not like it, quite the opposite; it is nicely designed. I just said that I found it to be a waste of my time. Your experience may differ.
... also a complete, utter waste of time.
I have to admit that I bought the software because I am a Criterion collector and because the developers did a really nice job in terms of look and feel. So I scanned hundreds and hundreds of DVDs in there and now I can see them sitting on gorgeous virtual shelves on my fully loaded PowerBook G4. And I can pat myself in the back. And that is about it.
The fact that useless software (and products in general) that does not make you nicer, more knowledgeable, or more intelligent can generate so much revenue is beyond common sense. But the saddest part is that I am actually contributing to that trend.
Tired of all these people who spend their time producing patents just based on ideas while others are doing the hard work of implementing similar ideas without patenting, only to be sued later. Tired also of all the lawyers and organizations who collect patents in order to sue implementors, which is an awfully selfish purpose that is highly detrimental to the common good. Having an idea is easy. Having an idea and implementing it is what deserves credit. You could still obtain a patent just based on an idea but anyone who implements it before you do would be exempt from licensing it from you. And if you buy a patent, you would not be able to collect money unless you also provide an implementation. In the end, this would be beneficial to the general public.
... you make a ton of money with your software. So go ahead and write it. Patent defensively, for your own protection and if you can afford it. But nobody in their right business mind is going to sue you unless you have created an untapped $100-million market with your new software. People in business are very greedy, but they are usually not mean just for the sake of being mean (e.g. shutting you down for absolutely no business reason). Why would they waste their energy that way instead of generating wealth? Only the kind of small guy who thinks he invented everything would try to sue you but could he afford it? And if you are infringing on existing patents, when you are making a ton of money, just license those patents and you're fine. Or sell your company. Whatever works best for you. It's like taxes: do not complain if you are paying a lot of taxes; it just means you are making a lot of money.