I pay for a CD player that automatically writes my music to a hard drive, and then automatically retrieves the album information from the Internet. I can thus play the music off of the hard drive, instead of using the CD.
Why even bother buying a CD if its sole purpose is as a transfer medium? This portends the obsolesence of the compact disc...
This guy notes that the two things that distinguished Audiogalaxy from other p2p clients were the "use a web based interface, and [the ability to] queue songs for delivery later."
I've often wondered why this feature is lacking in gnutella clients. I, for one, am frustrated when I have to continually search for that one song I want. Shouldn't I be able to tell gnutella to search for a specific song and download it when I find it (without resorting to macros)? Is there any development going on in this area?
...a thinly disguised proposal for an instant messaging monopoly.
Right now there are lots of IM protocols floating around (AIM, MSN, ICQ, Jabber, etc). This is a good thing. Why? Because each service provides different options, allowing people to choose which client fits their needs. Competition creates better products.
Sure, you could ask each of the different developers to follow a universal protocol. This would ensure a marketplace in which each product succeeded or failed on the merits of its features. But you aren't gonna get MSN or AOL to abandon anything proprietary. Why? Because they don't stand to gain from such a move (you think people want to use bloated, ad-ridden software?).
Besides, this is somewhat of a moot point for those of us running OS X. Anyone who needs to juggle clients can use Proteus or Fire. I suspect such software exists for other platforms as well.
Think about what time really is. Without delving too deeply into metaphysics, you should realize that any sort of system for measuring time is inherently arbitrary. That is to say that whatever way we choose to measure time is artificial, unless you care to use sunrise and sunset as your starting points.
Substituting one Metric Time for 24/365 may make sense in theory -- after all, base-10 is quite logical -- but its real world application is nil. I can't think of any advantages to switching, outside the abstract notion that it's better. On the other hand, there are a number of downsides, implementation and an inevitable learning curve being the two most obvious.
Bottom Line: Sure it's a good idea, but it's not worth the time. *ducks*
Disqualifier: When threatened with jail time and that ridiculous fine as McOwen originally was, I probably would have capitulated and accepted the settlement myself. But still, I'd like to think I would have fought it.
Here's why:
This is the sort of case that the EFF salivates over. They (over-zealous law enforcement) want to take away his job, drain his savings, and throw him in jail. And for what? For wanting to help the scientific community? In the eyes of many people, McOwen is a martyr.
Therefore, Don't settle. Make them put him on trial. Let their fascist tactics stand exposed.
This could have been a precendent-making case.
Naturally, of course, they would've had to win. But what case would have stood a better chance?
The authors of this article seem to think Apple is hard at work on the Windows version of the iPod (or at least should be). While I don't doubt that a PC market for the iPod exists, I am skeptical that Apple will enter it. I'm assuming, btw, that by "Windows version," the authors mean a different hardware configuration, rather than a firmware upgrade.
A couple of reasons...
-Apple's marketing strategy revolves around the idea of the "digital hub." The iPod (and iTunes) are a major component of this strategy. Note that these commodities are exclusive to Apple. By producing a Windows version of the iPod, both Apple and Windows users would be able to experience the same great music experience. Apple wants to distinguish itself from the rest of the PC market, not cater to it. Making the iPod Mac-exclusive serves as an incentive for users to go Mac.
-Practically speaking, in terms of both production and support, Apple would be inviting trouble on itself by producing a PC version. Though Apple has tinkered with PC products before, everyone would agree it is not their forte.
-Why produce an entirely new version of the iPod when Windows users, granted with an extra cash outlay, already will be able to use the original? Simply because Firewire isn't standard on PCs yet? Please.
regarding mr. schmidt...
>
i sure am glad the military/industrial complex is a fiction.
otherwise i might think it suspicious that the man responsible for security on most of the world's computers works for the government.
love your country. fear your government.
Slashdot Mirror
Let me see if I understand this...
I pay for a CD player that automatically writes my music to a hard drive, and then automatically retrieves the album information from the Internet. I can thus play the music off of the hard drive, instead of using the CD.
Why even bother buying a CD if its sole purpose is as a transfer medium? This portends the obsolesence of the compact disc...
"possibly leaving the visually-disabled behind the technological advances."
everyone knows that in the future the visually-disabled will be chief engineers.
if only scientists would hurry up with warp core development...
This guy notes that the two things that distinguished Audiogalaxy from other p2p clients were the "use a web based interface, and [the ability to] queue songs for delivery later."
I've often wondered why this feature is lacking in gnutella clients. I, for one, am frustrated when I have to continually search for that one song I want. Shouldn't I be able to tell gnutella to search for a specific song and download it when I find it (without resorting to macros)? Is there any development going on in this area?Right now there are lots of IM protocols floating around (AIM, MSN, ICQ, Jabber, etc). This is a good thing. Why? Because each service provides different options, allowing people to choose which client fits their needs. Competition creates better products.
Sure, you could ask each of the different developers to follow a universal protocol. This would ensure a marketplace in which each product succeeded or failed on the merits of its features. But you aren't gonna get MSN or AOL to abandon anything proprietary. Why? Because they don't stand to gain from such a move (you think people want to use bloated, ad-ridden software?).
Besides, this is somewhat of a moot point for those of us running OS X. Anyone who needs to juggle clients can use Proteus or Fire. I suspect such software exists for other platforms as well.
The people who complain about user friendliness thinks of computers as tools. Meaning they only are useful insofar as they accomplish other taskss.
Slashdotters, by and large, look at computers as a trade. Meaning they want to understand why and how they work.
I don't see this as an either/or paradigm. User friendliness and functionality are symbiotic features. One can't exist without the other.
Think about what time really is. Without delving too deeply into metaphysics, you should realize that any sort of system for measuring time is inherently arbitrary. That is to say that whatever way we choose to measure time is artificial, unless you care to use sunrise and sunset as your starting points.
Substituting one Metric Time for 24/365 may make sense in theory -- after all, base-10 is quite logical -- but its real world application is nil. I can't think of any advantages to switching, outside the abstract notion that it's better. On the other hand, there are a number of downsides, implementation and an inevitable learning curve being the two most obvious.
Bottom Line: Sure it's a good idea, but it's not worth the time. *ducks*
What a surprise. Katz says nothing particularly original .
Disqualifier: When threatened with jail time and that ridiculous fine as McOwen originally was, I probably would have capitulated and accepted the settlement myself. But still, I'd like to think I would have fought it.
Here's why:
This is the sort of case that the EFF salivates over. They (over-zealous law enforcement) want to take away his job, drain his savings, and throw him in jail. And for what? For wanting to help the scientific community? In the eyes of many people, McOwen is a martyr.
Therefore, Don't settle. Make them put him on trial. Let their fascist tactics stand exposed.This could have been a precendent-making case.
Naturally, of course, they would've had to win. But what case would have stood a better chance?
A couple of reasons...
-Apple's marketing strategy revolves around the idea of the "digital hub." The iPod (and iTunes) are a major component of this strategy. Note that these commodities are exclusive to Apple. By producing a Windows version of the iPod, both Apple and Windows users would be able to experience the same great music experience. Apple wants to distinguish itself from the rest of the PC market, not cater to it. Making the iPod Mac-exclusive serves as an incentive for users to go Mac.
-Practically speaking, in terms of both production and support, Apple would be inviting trouble on itself by producing a PC version. Though Apple has tinkered with PC products before, everyone would agree it is not their forte.
-Why produce an entirely new version of the iPod when Windows users, granted with an extra cash outlay, already will be able to use the original? Simply because Firewire isn't standard on PCs yet? Please.
regarding mr. schmidt... > i sure am glad the military/industrial complex is a fiction. otherwise i might think it suspicious that the man responsible for security on most of the world's computers works for the government. love your country. fear your government.