Considering that quite a number of *geeks* are gay... shouldn't the question have asked what your getting your *lover* instead of your *lady*?
I suggest the QueerAsFolk first season DVD set. If it's too late to get it.... order up showtime:)
But beyond that... you can also consider gifts that are not just for valentines day... such as a trip to Hawaii (buy your lover the airplane tickets and present them)... or a cruise... or learning how to scuba... etc.
This article is unbelievable... reviews of products are protected under free speech laws -- as long as issues such as slander, etc... are not involved.
Because of McAfee's approach and rules... it has prompted me to place a complete ban on all McAfee products in our corporation.
I think that others, with similar control over their company policy, should consider doing the same. It is important to preserve the ability to talk about software that is good, or bad, so that people can make informed decisions.
The email I sent to them reads as follows:
This email is to let you know that we have banned all McAfee products from
being used in our corporation or by our employees on corporate computers.
The reason for this is your absurd attempt to squash free speech in attempting
to block reviews and comments written about your software, by customers, or,
for that matter, anyone who cares.
Restrictive covenants are illegal... and we will not deal with companies
who try such tactics.
If you want to insist on good reviews by customers... try writing good
software instead of resorting to prohibiting free speech.
I can't begin to tell you how many times something like this occurs. Companies who are helping to beta a program often sue over patent rights, claiming that their suggestions are in the code.
None of this stands up... ESPECIALLY if there is no contract. Often what we do is reward the beta tester with free/lower cost services... but we NEVER NEVER allow them rights to the software.
If you find this happening to you often, I suggest a simple non-disclosure agreement that must be signed before they can beta test. The agreement should spell out that (A) they can not disclose anything about the software and (B) beta testing does not give them any rights of ownership.
I'd also terminate the relationship with the company who is pursuing you, immediatly... and do not allow them back into your beta program.
Here at TQworld we are also extending our games to handle multiplayer... we also encountered the same problem as you did... here is the strategy we are currently working on - which might work for you as well.
When a new user joins a game he does so through the primary game servers, which identify the user and issue a code to the users client program. In addition, the server also issues a *handful* of IP addresses and codes for other players *near* the user (near being in terms of where the player is within the game). This handful of addresses and codes we term the *circle* - and you can think of it as being a circle of friends known to the clients game program.
Once received... the client program then does direct peer-to-peer communication with the *handful* of client IP's that it received from the server.
Now... as new gamers arrive, invariably they are handed some of these same IP's... each time they contact another game client they give their code... and they then remember it.
With each gamer coming online... the *nearest* game clients then *know* about that gamer. However, other clients may not, since they are not *near* the gamer at that point. As they enter the gamers area they, of course, broadcast their codes and positions, not only to their known circle of clients, but also back to the primary game server.
When a gamers client sees a new client code enter their area (as told to them by one of their circle of clients) -- they simply *ask* their circle who that player is. If none of their circle of clients know, they ask the primery server. Anytime they receive the new info, they not only update themselves, but they also tell their circle of clients.
This works similar to DNS... in that... because a particular game client only knows about a few other game clients - the amount of traffic is minimal, but eventually everyone knows about everyone through the *circle*. For anyone that is not known, the master game server knows and is polled. This puts the primary amount of activity in the clients, and peer to peer - as opposed as client to server (the server basically only records the initial entrance of a gamer into the game... and also takes care of responding to any confused clients who can't find out about a gamer from it's local circle).
I have no idea... he got the bird in Honolulu and at the frisking (the bird had already passed ag. inspection and had a *i've passed sticker*) they insisted on wanting to open the cage. My friend protested saying the bird would fly away so they let him on with the bird. Note that neither the bird nor carrier (large plastic/metal box) went through a scanner (thank god - or we'd been eating squab for dinner;)
I agree completely with this. I'm arab myself, but because I was adopted as a baby I have a *regular american name* and no accent...
Since 911 I have flown 12 times and ONLY been searched once in those 12 times... yet I have seen 80 year olds, babies, young kids, and other *unlikely* people get searched.
The technology they are proposing will not work. First.... it is supposed to catch people who are doing *obviously* unusual things... so what will terrorists do? Nothing unusual! Such a system would be easy to beat simply because the rules are known:
1) Don't look like a foreigner (clothing, accent, etc)
2) Have a normal name
3) Carry nothing unusual
4) Always buy a round trip ticket... regardless of your intent
etc...
The *only* time I was searched in the last 12 trips was when I changed one of my flights, to stay 2 extra days. Since I changed the flight, and it was one-way (it's an island folks - all the flights are one way for us locals) - that raised the eyebrows... but they didn't search well... and my partner who was carring a parrot was asked to have the parrot searched (he refused and they allowed him to board without having the parrot searched).
So the way I see it... the only people NOT being searched by these systems will probably be the terrorists themselves (no no no, i'm not a terrorist... I'm just a normal guy dreading living in Bush's vision of a future).
If I put my *way back hat* on.... it strikes me that a company used to build a *mind tracker* and sold it for the original Apple series... the device was a band that fitted around your head and did basic biofeedback sensing. You then *trained* the software for up/down/left/right. Though I'm sure that this new mechanism is more accurate and capable.
Makes me wonder though... will it be plug-n-pray or will I have to install a DLL? And... with XP wanting to know everything about the user... will it also want to know what I'm thinking? Makes the term HEAD CRASH have a whole new meaning (not to mention a HEAD COLD and other viruses).
And will I be violating DMCA by allowing another *mind* to use my mouse? What if I have multiple personalities... is that a single or multiple user license.
Linux? who said anything, in my original post, about Linux. I'm talking UNIX here?
And don't shovel any MS drivel about how MS was involved in the Internet.... remember back when Billy Boy said that the Internet was just a fad and something he wasn't concerned with.
Typical... MS weenies think they invented everything.
The only thing MS has contributed to the internet is unstability... viruses and worms. You must feel really important to have contributed so much... you anonymous coward (again, typical of MS responses like this... they know they're blowing it out their asses so they don't even have the balls to identify themselves).
Oh ya... and don't call me sweetheart. I wouldn't screw you... your already getting screwed enough by your lover MS.
This is just further proof (not that we did not know this already) that Microsoft has shifted focus from being a software house (hahahahahahahaha) to now being a information database for sale.
One way to make them crumble is to USE passport and wallet on machines where you do not intend to purchase... and ALWAYS use bogus information. Their databases will become useless quickly if it is filled with info that is worthless to the people purchasing the databases.
Another thought is.... if this info is constantly sent to microsoft, including your browsing habits... how hard would it be to write a program that does noting but browse browse browse... if it was built simliar to SETI, etc... and distributed among a quarter million PC's... that should flood Microsoft servers with enough *data* to cause them some grief.
As far as microsoft goes... I'm all for spoofing... lieing to them, and filling their drives with useless crap - just as they have filled my drives.
Hey COWARD... it's us GEEKS that make the software you USE.
To put it in a way YOU probably understand with your TINY brain... "what the lord giveth.. the lord can taketh away"... or to put it bluntly... "we helped create the internet... we can help destroy it".
Funny that you tell us that it isn't OUR internet anymore, and to go create a new one. I assume the reason for that is YOUR TO STUPID TO CREATE ONE YOURSELF.
Go back to playing with lincon logs until you figure out what programming and software are REALLY ABOUT.
Not true coward... if you look, for example, at C++, you will notice that it's original definitions is of a PREPROCESSOR to C. Thus... anything C++ can do, C can do. Thus... the ONLY reason to use C++ is that (A) your boss can read it (???) or (B) your a lousy programmer.
I have NO problems with new languages... EXCEPT when they offer NO improvements over existing language... and only serve to make life easier on programmers.
One of the reasons that software is in the state it is (dismal) is due to lazy programmers being churned out by universities.
I mean REALLY folks... 25 years ago when I was programming Z80s (yes, in assembly) - I thought that in 25 years, with GIGAHERTZ PROCESSORS... we wouldn't need to be waiting for software, or windows to BOOT, or any of the other gross things that we do (e.g., WHERE IS MY JETPACK:).
The upshot... C++ and similar languages are for the lazy that couldn't write good code if their lives depended on it.
While I agree that OS X is a great new platform,and indeed, a great gameing platform, There are a couple of caveats I'd point out in reference to the article.
We recently rewrote our game tranquility, originally for SGI, to run on OS X (100% rewrite, not a port). We selected OS X over MS because of two major reasons... (1) we hate MS and (2) we love UNIX. OS X gave us the ability to completely work around a shifting (and shifty) MS playing ground... and because OS X is based on a UNIX kernel, we felt that stability and capability were superior.
We were not wrong. OS X is a blast to write games for. While our game servers are SUN (though they could be MACs)... the client internet code was written on a SUN and compiled straight away, with no errors, on the MAC. This type of simplicity and uniformaty indeed make OS X a beauty to write for.
However... we also selected OpenGL as the clients drawing system, simply because it matched the needs of the game (which was originally written in SGI GL). Apple has yet to release its version of OpenGL in source form to developers. Releasing it would help developers to support it, increase its efficiency, as well as remove a couple of the remaining problems (it IS open source, after all, but Apple has made some changes within the code). Instead, Apple seems to prefer its game developers to use its alternative (and prop. platform)... which immediatly removes porting possibilities.
Furthermore, and sadly... Apple enjoys Objective C... which quite frankly I've never been able to properly sink my teeth into. Bastardizations of a standard language such as C, into deviants such as C++ and Objective C, do nothing good for anyone. It makes porting or even rewriting difficult... and obscures readability of the code. It also wastes development time in learning a new language.
My upshot? OS X is a WONDERFUL game platform, if you ignore Apples desires and stick to the UNIX layer and standard C, as much as possible, for your designs. Specialized tools, libraries and langauge only serve to make programming more difficult.
Just how many PALM and other PDA knockoffs do we need. The market is pretty saturated and HANDSPRING/PALM sales and specials reflect this fact.
Now don't get me wrong... I love my HANDSPRING because it allows me to TELNET (that's right, TELNET) from my cellphone. to my remote servers and do admin chores and read email while I'm on vacation, or hiking around the Island.
But I don't need a billion flavors... and the market is glutted with knockoffs... and these devices SHOULD be about $99, not hundreds.
Maybe it will be more interesting if PALM integrates *B-OS* with it, and makes a true *POWERFUL* wearable.
This PALM device seems to be little more than a pacifier for the shareholders.
While I agree with your overall tone of your comments... there are a couple of areas where I just have to disagree:
...legal way for you to [write software for PS2] (without alienating their licensees, who pay money to be allowed to write for the console).
The problem with these game consoles is that unless you work for a multi-million dollar company... and pay SONY ultra-big-bucks... you can't write for them. This greatly limits the number of fun games and useful products that could exist for PS2 and other devices.
Case in point... we would like to port our tranquility game (tqworld) to PS 2 -- but Sony won't even return our calls - why? because we arn't a BIG COMPANY with a BIG NAME and a BIG SAVINGS ACCOUNT from which to write SONY BIG BUCKS.
What this means is that we are held at bay by a limited number of games - in a limited number of genres - from a limited number of manufacturers.
The OLD BOYS CLUB.
Now sure... it's SONYs right to decide who can and can not create games for their devices... but their devices would be *oh so much more popular* if they opened up the game interface and allowed us regular joes to throw our programming talents at it.
Additionally... SONY seems to prefer to fund companies who create extremely violent games -- while ignoring companies who create games that are non-violent -- a highly unbalanced playing field.
Think, a moment, what would happen if MicroSoft, or Apple... removed the ability for you to put compilers on their computers and write your own code. What if the computer manufacturers would ONLY allow code from *licensed* companies to run. That would not only kill the entire programming profession, it would create a huge unbalance of software and capabilities.
Now consider what happens when Game Consoles MERGE with computers... will this be the outcome? Only writing programs for Microsoft if you PAY MS big money to be the privledged one to do so?
Vertical resolution of your GPS is dependent on two factors:
1) The number of satelites you are currently locked onto.
2) The number of satelites you are locked onto near the HORIZON, versus overhead.
So... the more satelites your locked onto, that or near your horizon, the more accurate your vertical information will be.
Interestingly enough... a recent experiment determined that the GPS satelites can ALSO be sensed ABOVE the satelites themselves. The question came up when people wondered if space travel could benefit from GPS positioning OUTSIDE their sphere. The answer is *yes*... but the interesting thing is that the locks were coming from satelites on the other side of the earth - just near the edge - as opposed to the satelites directly under the test.
The problem with all these new laws (some of which have already passed...) is that it is now illegal for us to see what their doing inside the boxes.
Think about that for a moment... since it is now illegal for us to *reverse engineer* any aspect (hardware or software) of a system... or even REPORT about how something works... therefore we can't protect ourselves.
What that means is that a manufacturer can now imbed elements into a system that watch you, report on you, and compile statistics on you. Not only is it illegal for you to find out about it... it's now illegal for you to TALK about it to anyone if you DO discover it.
So... manufacturers THINK they have the right to our personal habits... our personal information... without charge. BUT... we don't have the right to make sure our privacy is protected!!!
This is akin to the *old* days where at the checkout line they ask you for your zipcode for their *database*. My standard response is... SURE... $5. Usually they look at me agast... EXCUSE ME???? Yes... you want my personal data? $5.
Same thing has to now apply to these fucked up manufactures who think that just because you bought something of theirs, they get a chunk of your private life. SAY NO to all these technologies...
Furthermore... REVERSE ENGINEER EVERYTHING -- it is our RIGHT as citizens to protect ourselves. Would you buy a CAR where the manufacturer told you "if you open the hood you can go to jail"?? Of course not.
These manufacturers have to learn a lesson -- the *no servicable parts inside* can NOT be applied in such a way that it prevents the buyer from insuring that the device is NOT doing more than advertised!!
I suspect that as this year progresses, we will see corporations, and even governments, moving away from Microsoft.
Why?
1... MS's WHOREing pricing policy... high prices for crappy software.
2... MS's insecure software... companies and corporations are not going to stand for viruses and worms hitting their systems every few weeks... data recovery is expensive.
3... MS's illegal business practices... as well as illegal tax and dividend practices.
4... Companies are increasingly wary that MS is looking over their shoulder... if viruses can send your email around... what's to keep MS from looking all over your hard drive for insider information, mail information etc... CONSIDER this as well, if you are a government... are YOU going to let your data be read by others outside the office (whether by virus, or by secret intent?). I think not!
Corporations are sick of being whored.... in our own corporation we are phasing out all MS products and computers. As each machine retires, it is being replaced by UNIX boxes (SUN, OSX etc).
So not only is MS's business practices going to kill itself... it will kill Intel, DELL, Compaq, and right down the line... as people are convinced that anything with MS on it is appaling insecure... overpriced... and not worth the gamble.
Say NO to microsoft... say NO to their forced pricing changes... say NO to SOFTWARE UPDATE (just how many new features do you need anyway)... and say NO to their proposed INCREASED SECURITY -- there are plenty of secure systems out there today... that don't require rewriting... and that don't crash... and that don't email your private data to the entire world.
NO NO NO... you ALL have it wrong... when that asshole Bill Gates says it's going to emphasis increased security... he means his companies FINANCIAL SECURITY... this has NOTHING to do with software.
So... expect the next update to watch your every move... to report everything back to MS... so they can nail you on trumped up charges.
Expect the next release to covertly install software you didn't pay for... so their software alliance can send the federal marshals to fine you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
THAT is how they will increase security - and their bottom line.
Face it folks... MS couldn't code their way out of an elevator without it crashing. What makes us think they can start now!
MS is nothing but a marketing mafia... they do NOT know how to write quality code... and Gates saying they will start... is a bunch of hogwash.
I still pray daily for Mt. Ranier to erupt and take out ALL of microsoft... their *coders* (hahahahahahahah) and Gates and his house.
Throw out your PC's... your MS software... after all, there is nothing on it you need anyway.
Slashdot Mirror
I suggest the QueerAsFolk first season DVD set. If it's too late to get it.... order up showtime :)
But beyond that... you can also consider gifts that are not just for valentines day... such as a trip to Hawaii (buy your lover the airplane tickets and present them)... or a cruise... or learning how to scuba... etc.
Because of McAfee's approach and rules... it has prompted me to place a complete ban on all McAfee products in our corporation.
I think that others, with similar control over their company policy, should consider doing the same. It is important to preserve the ability to talk about software that is good, or bad, so that people can make informed decisions.
The email I sent to them reads as follows:
The reason for this is your absurd attempt to squash free speech in attempting to block reviews and comments written about your software, by customers, or, for that matter, anyone who cares.
Restrictive covenants are illegal... and we will not deal with companies who try such tactics.
If you want to insist on good reviews by customers... try writing good software instead of resorting to prohibiting free speech.
Your company has NO ALOHA.
None of this stands up... ESPECIALLY if there is no contract. Often what we do is reward the beta tester with free/lower cost services... but we NEVER NEVER allow them rights to the software.
If you find this happening to you often, I suggest a simple non-disclosure agreement that must be signed before they can beta test. The agreement should spell out that (A) they can not disclose anything about the software and (B) beta testing does not give them any rights of ownership.
I'd also terminate the relationship with the company who is pursuing you, immediatly... and do not allow them back into your beta program.
When a new user joins a game he does so through the primary game servers, which identify the user and issue a code to the users client program. In addition, the server also issues a *handful* of IP addresses and codes for other players *near* the user (near being in terms of where the player is within the game). This handful of addresses and codes we term the *circle* - and you can think of it as being a circle of friends known to the clients game program.
Once received... the client program then does direct peer-to-peer communication with the *handful* of client IP's that it received from the server.
Now... as new gamers arrive, invariably they are handed some of these same IP's... each time they contact another game client they give their code... and they then remember it.
With each gamer coming online... the *nearest* game clients then *know* about that gamer. However, other clients may not, since they are not *near* the gamer at that point. As they enter the gamers area they, of course, broadcast their codes and positions, not only to their known circle of clients, but also back to the primary game server.
When a gamers client sees a new client code enter their area (as told to them by one of their circle of clients) -- they simply *ask* their circle who that player is. If none of their circle of clients know, they ask the primery server. Anytime they receive the new info, they not only update themselves, but they also tell their circle of clients.
This works similar to DNS... in that... because a particular game client only knows about a few other game clients - the amount of traffic is minimal, but eventually everyone knows about everyone through the *circle*. For anyone that is not known, the master game server knows and is polled. This puts the primary amount of activity in the clients, and peer to peer - as opposed as client to server (the server basically only records the initial entrance of a gamer into the game... and also takes care of responding to any confused clients who can't find out about a gamer from it's local circle).
I have no idea... he got the bird in Honolulu and at the frisking (the bird had already passed ag. inspection and had a *i've passed sticker*) they insisted on wanting to open the cage. My friend protested saying the bird would fly away so they let him on with the bird. Note that neither the bird nor carrier (large plastic/metal box) went through a scanner (thank god - or we'd been eating squab for dinner ;)
Since 911 I have flown 12 times and ONLY been searched once in those 12 times... yet I have seen 80 year olds, babies, young kids, and other *unlikely* people get searched.
The technology they are proposing will not work. First.... it is supposed to catch people who are doing *obviously* unusual things... so what will terrorists do? Nothing unusual! Such a system would be easy to beat simply because the rules are known:
1) Don't look like a foreigner (clothing, accent, etc)
2) Have a normal name
3) Carry nothing unusual
4) Always buy a round trip ticket... regardless of your intent
etc...
The *only* time I was searched in the last 12 trips was when I changed one of my flights, to stay 2 extra days. Since I changed the flight, and it was one-way (it's an island folks - all the flights are one way for us locals) - that raised the eyebrows... but they didn't search well... and my partner who was carring a parrot was asked to have the parrot searched (he refused and they allowed him to board without having the parrot searched).
So the way I see it... the only people NOT being searched by these systems will probably be the terrorists themselves (no no no, i'm not a terrorist... I'm just a normal guy dreading living in Bush's vision of a future).
Makes me wonder though... will it be plug-n-pray or will I have to install a DLL? And... with XP wanting to know everything about the user... will it also want to know what I'm thinking? Makes the term HEAD CRASH have a whole new meaning (not to mention a HEAD COLD and other viruses).
And will I be violating DMCA by allowing another *mind* to use my mouse? What if I have multiple personalities... is that a single or multiple user license.
I'm confused.
Linux? who said anything, in my original post, about Linux. I'm talking UNIX here?
And don't shovel any MS drivel about how MS was involved in the Internet.... remember back when Billy Boy said that the Internet was just a fad and something he wasn't concerned with.
Typical... MS weenies think they invented everything.
The only thing MS has contributed to the internet is unstability... viruses and worms. You must feel really important to have contributed so much... you anonymous coward (again, typical of MS responses like this... they know they're blowing it out their asses so they don't even have the balls to identify themselves).
Oh ya... and don't call me sweetheart. I wouldn't screw you... your already getting screwed enough by your lover MS.
One way to make them crumble is to USE passport and wallet on machines where you do not intend to purchase... and ALWAYS use bogus information. Their databases will become useless quickly if it is filled with info that is worthless to the people purchasing the databases.
Another thought is.... if this info is constantly sent to microsoft, including your browsing habits... how hard would it be to write a program that does noting but browse browse browse... if it was built simliar to SETI, etc... and distributed among a quarter million PC's... that should flood Microsoft servers with enough *data* to cause them some grief.
As far as microsoft goes... I'm all for spoofing... lieing to them, and filling their drives with useless crap - just as they have filled my drives.
To put it in a way YOU probably understand with your TINY brain... "what the lord giveth.. the lord can taketh away"... or to put it bluntly... "we helped create the internet... we can help destroy it".
Funny that you tell us that it isn't OUR internet anymore, and to go create a new one. I assume the reason for that is YOUR TO STUPID TO CREATE ONE YOURSELF.
Go back to playing with lincon logs until you figure out what programming and software are REALLY ABOUT.
I have NO problems with new languages... EXCEPT when they offer NO improvements over existing language... and only serve to make life easier on programmers.
One of the reasons that software is in the state it is (dismal) is due to lazy programmers being churned out by universities.
I mean REALLY folks... 25 years ago when I was programming Z80s (yes, in assembly) - I thought that in 25 years, with GIGAHERTZ PROCESSORS... we wouldn't need to be waiting for software, or windows to BOOT, or any of the other gross things that we do (e.g., WHERE IS MY JETPACK :).
The upshot... C++ and similar languages are for the lazy that couldn't write good code if their lives depended on it.
Oh great... NOW I have to worry about driving over TRANSPARENT BRIDGES? :)))
We recently rewrote our game tranquility, originally for SGI, to run on OS X (100% rewrite, not a port). We selected OS X over MS because of two major reasons... (1) we hate MS and (2) we love UNIX. OS X gave us the ability to completely work around a shifting (and shifty) MS playing ground... and because OS X is based on a UNIX kernel, we felt that stability and capability were superior.
We were not wrong. OS X is a blast to write games for. While our game servers are SUN (though they could be MACs)... the client internet code was written on a SUN and compiled straight away, with no errors, on the MAC. This type of simplicity and uniformaty indeed make OS X a beauty to write for.
However... we also selected OpenGL as the clients drawing system, simply because it matched the needs of the game (which was originally written in SGI GL). Apple has yet to release its version of OpenGL in source form to developers. Releasing it would help developers to support it, increase its efficiency, as well as remove a couple of the remaining problems (it IS open source, after all, but Apple has made some changes within the code). Instead, Apple seems to prefer its game developers to use its alternative (and prop. platform)... which immediatly removes porting possibilities.
Furthermore, and sadly... Apple enjoys Objective C... which quite frankly I've never been able to properly sink my teeth into. Bastardizations of a standard language such as C, into deviants such as C++ and Objective C, do nothing good for anyone. It makes porting or even rewriting difficult... and obscures readability of the code. It also wastes development time in learning a new language.
My upshot? OS X is a WONDERFUL game platform, if you ignore Apples desires and stick to the UNIX layer and standard C, as much as possible, for your designs. Specialized tools, libraries and langauge only serve to make programming more difficult.
Now don't get me wrong... I love my HANDSPRING because it allows me to TELNET (that's right, TELNET) from my cellphone. to my remote servers and do admin chores and read email while I'm on vacation, or hiking around the Island.
But I don't need a billion flavors... and the market is glutted with knockoffs... and these devices SHOULD be about $99, not hundreds.
Maybe it will be more interesting if PALM integrates *B-OS* with it, and makes a true *POWERFUL* wearable.
This PALM device seems to be little more than a pacifier for the shareholders.
Too little... too late... to expensive!
I'll stick with REAL computers running a REAL OS (UNIX) and not companies who are controlled by the MS MARKETING MONKEYS.
The problem with these game consoles is that unless you work for a multi-million dollar company... and pay SONY ultra-big-bucks... you can't write for them. This greatly limits the number of fun games and useful products that could exist for PS2 and other devices.
Case in point... we would like to port our tranquility game (tqworld) to PS 2 -- but Sony won't even return our calls - why? because we arn't a BIG COMPANY with a BIG NAME and a BIG SAVINGS ACCOUNT from which to write SONY BIG BUCKS.
What this means is that we are held at bay by a limited number of games - in a limited number of genres - from a limited number of manufacturers.
The OLD BOYS CLUB.
Now sure... it's SONYs right to decide who can and can not create games for their devices... but their devices would be *oh so much more popular* if they opened up the game interface and allowed us regular joes to throw our programming talents at it.
Additionally... SONY seems to prefer to fund companies who create extremely violent games -- while ignoring companies who create games that are non-violent -- a highly unbalanced playing field.
Think, a moment, what would happen if MicroSoft, or Apple... removed the ability for you to put compilers on their computers and write your own code. What if the computer manufacturers would ONLY allow code from *licensed* companies to run. That would not only kill the entire programming profession, it would create a huge unbalance of software and capabilities.
Now consider what happens when Game Consoles MERGE with computers... will this be the outcome? Only writing programs for Microsoft if you PAY MS big money to be the privledged one to do so?
http://www.democraticmedia.org/issues/openaccess/i ndex.html
This is a terrible thing - and could very well squash what we have all come to love and enjoy.
DO YOU want to have to go to AOL.COM and enter the keyword SLASHDOT in order to read YOUR SLASHDOT?
1) The number of satelites you are currently locked onto.
2) The number of satelites you are locked onto near the HORIZON, versus overhead.
So... the more satelites your locked onto, that or near your horizon, the more accurate your vertical information will be.
Interestingly enough... a recent experiment determined that the GPS satelites can ALSO be sensed ABOVE the satelites themselves. The question came up when people wondered if space travel could benefit from GPS positioning OUTSIDE their sphere. The answer is *yes*... but the interesting thing is that the locks were coming from satelites on the other side of the earth - just near the edge - as opposed to the satelites directly under the test.
Think about that for a moment... since it is now illegal for us to *reverse engineer* any aspect (hardware or software) of a system... or even REPORT about how something works... therefore we can't protect ourselves.
What that means is that a manufacturer can now imbed elements into a system that watch you, report on you, and compile statistics on you. Not only is it illegal for you to find out about it... it's now illegal for you to TALK about it to anyone if you DO discover it.
So... manufacturers THINK they have the right to our personal habits... our personal information... without charge. BUT... we don't have the right to make sure our privacy is protected!!!
This is akin to the *old* days where at the checkout line they ask you for your zipcode for their *database*. My standard response is... SURE... $5. Usually they look at me agast... EXCUSE ME???? Yes... you want my personal data? $5.
Same thing has to now apply to these fucked up manufactures who think that just because you bought something of theirs, they get a chunk of your private life. SAY NO to all these technologies...
Furthermore... REVERSE ENGINEER EVERYTHING -- it is our RIGHT as citizens to protect ourselves. Would you buy a CAR where the manufacturer told you "if you open the hood you can go to jail"?? Of course not.
These manufacturers have to learn a lesson -- the *no servicable parts inside* can NOT be applied in such a way that it prevents the buyer from insuring that the device is NOT doing more than advertised!!
If AOL buys REDHAT... I suspect about the same thing will occur.
It's unfortunate when huge companies get their greedy hands on great and novel technology.
Why?
1... MS's WHOREing pricing policy... high prices for crappy software.
2... MS's insecure software... companies and corporations are not going to stand for viruses and worms hitting their systems every few weeks... data recovery is expensive.
3... MS's illegal business practices... as well as illegal tax and dividend practices.
4... Companies are increasingly wary that MS is looking over their shoulder... if viruses can send your email around... what's to keep MS from looking all over your hard drive for insider information, mail information etc... CONSIDER this as well, if you are a government... are YOU going to let your data be read by others outside the office (whether by virus, or by secret intent?). I think not!
Corporations are sick of being whored.... in our own corporation we are phasing out all MS products and computers. As each machine retires, it is being replaced by UNIX boxes (SUN, OSX etc).
So not only is MS's business practices going to kill itself... it will kill Intel, DELL, Compaq, and right down the line... as people are convinced that anything with MS on it is appaling insecure... overpriced... and not worth the gamble.
Say NO to microsoft... say NO to their forced pricing changes... say NO to SOFTWARE UPDATE (just how many new features do you need anyway)... and say NO to their proposed INCREASED SECURITY -- there are plenty of secure systems out there today... that don't require rewriting... and that don't crash... and that don't email your private data to the entire world.
So... expect the next update to watch your every move... to report everything back to MS... so they can nail you on trumped up charges.
Expect the next release to covertly install software you didn't pay for... so their software alliance can send the federal marshals to fine you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
THAT is how they will increase security - and their bottom line.
Face it folks... MS couldn't code their way out of an elevator without it crashing. What makes us think they can start now!
MS is nothing but a marketing mafia... they do NOT know how to write quality code... and Gates saying they will start... is a bunch of hogwash.
I still pray daily for Mt. Ranier to erupt and take out ALL of microsoft... their *coders* (hahahahahahahah) and Gates and his house.
Throw out your PC's... your MS software... after all, there is nothing on it you need anyway.