I recall a time when every software program "locked".
There were many attempts at protecting this software from copying (recall this was back in the 5 1/4" days). Everything from bit mangling to (gack) writing your own driver to read a custom written track (in some bizzarro land format). Guess what? Folks got around it.
Finally, some bright genius did some math and realized "hey, we are spending more money on this copy protection than it's worth". I recall the first program WITHOUT copy protection received more press than probably was due. PR? Marketing? Who knows.
This concept of copy protection died years ago.
First, it is not economically supportable without knowledge (read FACTS, not freaking guesses) how much and how many illegal copies are out there.
Second, it is a waste of resources. Spending time and money on it reduces, not increases, your bottom line.
Finally, in the long run your just pissing off the very customer base you want to expand. How many people bought from iTMS only to discover that they couldn't play the song on their favorite (non-iPod) music player? THEN blamed it on Apple when it was really the RIAA who places the restrictions?
Yup. Copy Protection is dead. But then again, I could be wrong...
Well, I did the initial design work for a certain pump company that sells RFID to gasoline companies. We used the an RFID unit sold by a certain Texas electronics company. All of the RFID tags were supposed to be unique. We found out later their mouths were moving.
FIRST, we got sample tags that were supposed to be all unique, but of which five had the same exact number.
THEN, we discover that only a RANGE were unique, that in fact the rest of the values were being used by cattle and pork industry (removed at slaughter is what they say). Which brought up the specter of Farmer Jones getting free gas when he drove his prize pig into town.
FINALLY, the last straw was when we discovered there was no CRC. Period. They just sent it and hoped for the best. The Texas electronics firm tried to BS their way with bogus bit recovery schemes (which wouldn't work because the recievers would inject or drop bits without notice).
You just know some ignorant tinfoil-hat wearing/.ers are going to assume that the stories are related somehow, and that the Apple Security Update somehow sabotaged playfair.
Despite my appearance in the aluminium chapeau, I assure you that I was neither confused nor in any way inferred that the two stories were linked.
Now if those damned bugs would just come out from under my skin, I could convince the Docs...
First, one can look at the machines that Microsoft DID port NT to - in general it was machines that did not have a large user base. Basic business practices tend to do this: expand your base, but not so much that it kills your main base, i.e. X86.
Second, Microsoft makes money on every box that ships with Windows preinstalled. From their point of view, they sell a license and the rest of the work is up to the hardware manufacturer (we used to call them OEM's, but now they're called every thing to VARs to GoddamSonofaBitches). Apple doesn't make a cent if it can only sell the OS. In fact, they would LOSE money.
Third, IIRC, those NT ports were pretty crappy (except for the Alpha). Most things I heard about the PPC ports were pretty dismal. And once you got the OS, well, you had the OS. Without applications, it is still just a paperweight.
Finally, NT sucked when compared to the Unix alternative (yeah, I know, MS said when they FIRST introduced NT that it would combine Unix, etc. etc.). I (at work) use a 1 Ghz Pentium and the damn thing crashes every three days. I use a Bondi Blue Mac running OS X and it just keeps ticking.
Let's get real. What is the current driving force behind the Mac OS X phenomena and what is making people say "port it to the x86" is that it IS what Linux should have been. Linux is closer, but I have yet to see the "one-click" install.
As someone said before, make Apple a software-only company and Apple will die.
We should then be told by the Galactic Community that we can't leave this planet until we clean it up. And that DOESN'T mean shoving everything into the closet (I tried it with Mom and it doesn't work).
That said, how does this fit into your situation? Well, first, you have to determine how difficult is it for the employer to replace you? Will it require a large learning curve? Do you have specialized knowledge that no one else at the company has that is VITAL to the company? If so, then stay.
I have seen companies let folks go because the bean counters said so - and as a result they couldn't make a product because it required specialized knowledge. In this field those folks are far and few between.
Do you live someplace that for the vast majority of people is considered a sucky area (like North Dakota). It would require a whole lotta money to get me to move there.
Beyond the learning curve and the area of the country, your best bet is to go with another company. Rumors get around and someone is going to notice you got a pay increase.
No doubt they did, but that was only in the Bizarro Universe (see issue #3234).
We keep seeing evidence that Microsoft broke the law, scoffed at it publicly, then broke it again. We've seen the DOJ go from "break 'em up, Danno" to "well, their not as bad as the Taliban". My theory is that people will get bored with Microsofts excesses.
"Microsoft has an elite hit squad!" [reaction shot of/.tters yawning]
"Apple bought out two companies you never heard of!" [reaction shot of panic in the streets, vehicle careening wildly off cliffs, small children crying]
I can easily see it...
on
P2P Roaming Chat
·
· Score: 0, Offtopic
...being quickly turned into PornLand. Or worse.
Lessee, we have Al Queada Land, HitlerLand, MooseALini (the San Francisco Treat) Land, Land of the Giants, LanLand (for Net Admins only), LameLand (actually, you end up hooking into a live feed to North Dakota, but who can tell?), DeathRowLand (guns, gas, or needle?), RuralLand (more fun than watching the grass grow)...
Mine will be ModemLand where nothing moves faster than 56K baud...
Now everyone is going "ooooo, what does that mean for the rest of us"? Meanwhile, my ex-friend Bill, buys up companies left and right and there is barely a ripple in the Linux and Apple community. So why do I seem more threatening?
Personally, I think it is my turtle-necks. See, I learned from Grace Slick that nothing hides the look of age than a turtle-neck. Especially black because it a) looks cool b) hides that extra "executive weight". But it threatens people that I can look cool AND youngish at the same time. Bill looks like someone's Grandfather - or Mr. Burns from the "Simpsons". "Smithers, buy up Freedonia" - see how that would just seem natural coming out of his mouth?
But I buy two companies and BOOM I'm killing babies and eating their entrails.
My point is that first, Apple is a business and as a business it attempts to stay in the black, much like my turtlenecks. Second, get a grip. Mergers happen all the time. Some are good and some are bad. Third, I'm still cool, right?
I'm not a lawyer, do understand the law of precedent, also understand the law of proof - yet I can find NOTHING (read that as without founding) that proves my hand clicked that virtual button. In fact the only time you may EVER see a EULA is on installation. Okay, so there is no paper trail, absolutely ZILCH documenting who agreed to what.
So here is the problem. Assume that I wrote a script that automatically clicked on EULA buttons (or any button labeled AGREE). If I stuck a CD in a system and then the system clicks that EULA button, then have I, by default, also agreed? Is it going to get to the point where if you touch the box at the store you automatically agree to the EULA? ("No, I put it back, honestly, I never agreed to anything!!!").
And backing things up, where is the rule of evidence, dammit? If those damnable EULA's are legal, then why can't I vote the same way - oh, because people couldn't be sure it was YOU. Well, big fuckin DUH!
However, because the EULA is less important (oh, right, voting is so important we can barely get 35% of the electorate - mull that over), it deserves LESS inspection? You know, this is a lot like the way they put people to death here in Texas - no evidence, no witnesses, but EVERYONE knows he did it. So the game is on my computer. I use the computer. So OBVIOUSLY I must have done it, right?
Shakespeare got it right "the first thing we do is kill all the lawyers".
It is putting cable in the same conduit (or pipe to the electrically challenged). Yeah, it was mentioned before, but I think people are misunderstanding the article.
Ya know, I seem to remember the Telegraph companies did somethin' along these lines with the railroads (not with conduit, however). Western Union at one point had 80% of the telegraph business and said that it's near monopolistic trade was in everyone's best interest because it was consistent. Hmmm, wonder where I've heard that before.
Yah, we started having internal audits and I basically said "screw it" and started using OpenOffice 1.0.
Now, granted, MS.doc files don't get decoded correctly 100% of the time, but if they bought me the proper tools I wouldn't have to get stuff that is for free [grin].
Slashdot Mirror
...when you are working with the small machines.
C works quite well for the majority of processors out there - no, not 80x86, but 8051/8052 and 68xx's. You know, the REAL embedded systems.
These processors couldn't work with D or C++ (although I am game to try). C# [laughs] - yeah, pull the other one.
These guys are thinking sooooo IN the box....
Feloneous
... like when there isn't anything on TV?
I recall a time when every software program "locked".
There were many attempts at protecting this software from copying (recall this was back in the 5 1/4" days). Everything from bit mangling to (gack) writing your own driver to read a custom written track (in some bizzarro land format). Guess what? Folks got around it.
Finally, some bright genius did some math and realized "hey, we are spending more money on this copy protection than it's worth". I recall the first program WITHOUT copy protection received more press than probably was due. PR? Marketing? Who knows.
This concept of copy protection died years ago.
First, it is not economically supportable without knowledge (read FACTS, not freaking guesses) how much and how many illegal copies are out there.
Second, it is a waste of resources. Spending time and money on it reduces, not increases, your bottom line.
Finally, in the long run your just pissing off the very customer base you want to expand. How many people bought from iTMS only to discover that they couldn't play the song on their favorite (non-iPod) music player? THEN blamed it on Apple when it was really the RIAA who places the restrictions?
Yup. Copy Protection is dead. But then again, I could be wrong...
(Geek to wife)
Honey, come take a look at this....
(Wife to geek)
Do I have to?
Well, I did the initial design work for a certain pump company that sells RFID to gasoline companies. We used the an RFID unit sold by a certain Texas electronics company. All of the RFID tags were supposed to be unique. We found out later their mouths were moving.
FIRST, we got sample tags that were supposed to be all unique, but of which five had the same exact number.
THEN, we discover that only a RANGE were unique, that in fact the rest of the values were being used by cattle and pork industry (removed at slaughter is what they say). Which brought up the specter of Farmer Jones getting free gas when he drove his prize pig into town.
FINALLY, the last straw was when we discovered there was no CRC. Period. They just sent it and hoped for the best. The Texas electronics firm tried to BS their way with bogus bit recovery schemes (which wouldn't work because the recievers would inject or drop bits without notice).
So what does this have to do with Nokia? Dunno.
On Windows we had Trojans of this level of complexity...ten years ago.
So, what, Windows users are now bragging that their Trojans are more complex than the Macs?
That seems like dubious bragging rights...
You just know some ignorant tinfoil-hat wearing /.ers are going to assume that the stories are related somehow, and that the Apple Security Update somehow sabotaged playfair.
Despite my appearance in the aluminium chapeau, I assure you that I was neither confused nor in any way inferred that the two stories were linked.
Now if those damned bugs would just come out from under my skin, I could convince the Docs...
... but again by the wrong people.
Wonder how they will do product placement?
Yup. It can be read right here Computer Security Report Card
Is this a case of the blind leading the sighted?
... it turned programming from a vibrant art to something dull and tedious.
Yup. Looked CG to me as well. When something looks too good to be true, it is.
... But I know what I... excuse me, my pant's are ringing...
I suspect we sold them to them... Wondered where that $87 billion went...
But you do gotta wonder if the Palestinians are going "damn, the mosquitos are bad this year!"
Add another PLUS and you not only won't have to know about pointers, but how computers work either!
My ISP sends me these "alerts" all the time. It is annoying.
What my ISP should do is send ONE message ONE time that reads as so:
Sir or Madam or Person of Indeterminate sex:
If you have a PC, please assume that on any given day, you have a virus. Better look into it on a daily basis.
If you have a Mac, are running Linux, or some other system, please ignore this message now. You are secure.
Your Friendly ISP
Feloneous
First, one can look at the machines that Microsoft DID port NT to - in general it was machines that did not have a large user base. Basic business practices tend to do this: expand your base, but not so much that it kills your main base, i.e. X86.
Second, Microsoft makes money on every box that ships with Windows preinstalled. From their point of view, they sell a license and the rest of the work is up to the hardware manufacturer (we used to call them OEM's, but now they're called every thing to VARs to GoddamSonofaBitches). Apple doesn't make a cent if it can only sell the OS. In fact, they would LOSE money.
Third, IIRC, those NT ports were pretty crappy (except for the Alpha). Most things I heard about the PPC ports were pretty dismal. And once you got the OS, well, you had the OS. Without applications, it is still just a paperweight.
Finally, NT sucked when compared to the Unix alternative (yeah, I know, MS said when they FIRST introduced NT that it would combine Unix, etc. etc.). I (at work) use a 1 Ghz Pentium and the damn thing crashes every three days. I use a Bondi Blue Mac running OS X and it just keeps ticking.
Let's get real. What is the current driving force behind the Mac OS X phenomena and what is making people say "port it to the x86" is that it IS what Linux should have been. Linux is closer, but I have yet to see the "one-click" install.
As someone said before, make Apple a software-only company and Apple will die.
Perhaps I'm missing the excitement here having just read (in a PRINT publication, "Discover") about laser dentistry.
/. standards?
Since those articles tend to be written, oh, three months ago, isn't that ancient news by
We should then be told by the Galactic Community that we can't leave this planet until we clean it up. And that DOESN'T mean shoving everything into the closet (I tried it with Mom and it doesn't work).
We all can be replaced.
That said, how does this fit into your situation? Well, first, you have to determine how difficult is it for the employer to replace you? Will it require a large learning curve? Do you have specialized knowledge that no one else at the company has that is VITAL to the company? If so, then stay.
I have seen companies let folks go because the bean counters said so - and as a result they couldn't make a product because it required specialized knowledge. In this field those folks are far and few between.
Do you live someplace that for the vast majority of people is considered a sucky area (like North Dakota). It would require a whole lotta money to get me to move there.
Beyond the learning curve and the area of the country, your best bet is to go with another company. Rumors get around and someone is going to notice you got a pay increase.
But didn't Microsoft buy Apple?
/.tters yawning]
No doubt they did, but that was only in the Bizarro Universe (see issue #3234).
We keep seeing evidence that Microsoft broke the law, scoffed at it publicly, then broke it again. We've seen the DOJ go from "break 'em up, Danno" to "well, their not as bad as the Taliban". My theory is that people will get bored with Microsofts excesses.
"Microsoft has an elite hit squad!" [reaction shot of
"Apple bought out two companies you never heard of!" [reaction shot of panic in the streets, vehicle careening wildly off cliffs, small children crying]
...being quickly turned into PornLand. Or worse.
Lessee, we have Al Queada Land, HitlerLand, MooseALini (the San Francisco Treat) Land, Land of the Giants, LanLand (for Net Admins only), LameLand (actually, you end up hooking into a live feed to North Dakota, but who can tell?), DeathRowLand (guns, gas, or needle?), RuralLand (more fun than watching the grass grow)...
Mine will be ModemLand where nothing moves faster than 56K baud...
This was received from an anonymous source...
Now everyone is going "ooooo, what does that mean for the rest of us"? Meanwhile, my ex-friend Bill, buys up companies left and right and there is barely a ripple in the Linux and Apple community. So why do I seem more threatening?
Personally, I think it is my turtle-necks. See, I learned from Grace Slick that nothing hides the look of age than a turtle-neck. Especially black because it a) looks cool b) hides that extra "executive weight". But it threatens people that I can look cool AND youngish at the same time. Bill looks like someone's Grandfather - or Mr. Burns from the "Simpsons". "Smithers, buy up Freedonia" - see how that would just seem natural coming out of his mouth?
But I buy two companies and BOOM I'm killing babies and eating their entrails.
My point is that first, Apple is a business and as a business it attempts to stay in the black, much like my turtlenecks. Second, get a grip. Mergers happen all the time. Some are good and some are bad. Third, I'm still cool, right?
Your Pal,
Steve
...it was you that pressed that button?
I'm not a lawyer, do understand the law of precedent, also understand the law of proof - yet I can find NOTHING (read that as without founding) that proves my hand clicked that virtual button. In fact the only time you may EVER see a EULA is on installation. Okay, so there is no paper trail, absolutely ZILCH documenting who agreed to what.
So here is the problem. Assume that I wrote a script that automatically clicked on EULA buttons (or any button labeled AGREE). If I stuck a CD in a system and then the system clicks that EULA button, then have I, by default, also agreed? Is it going to get to the point where if you touch the box at the store you automatically agree to the EULA? ("No, I put it back, honestly, I never agreed to anything!!!").
And backing things up, where is the rule of evidence, dammit? If those damnable EULA's are legal, then why can't I vote the same way - oh, because people couldn't be sure it was YOU. Well, big fuckin DUH!
However, because the EULA is less important (oh, right, voting is so important we can barely get 35% of the electorate - mull that over), it deserves LESS inspection? You know, this is a lot like the way they put people to death here in Texas - no evidence, no witnesses, but EVERYONE knows he did it. So the game is on my computer. I use the computer. So OBVIOUSLY I must have done it, right?
Shakespeare got it right "the first thing we do is kill all the lawyers".
It is putting cable in the same conduit (or pipe to the electrically challenged). Yeah, it was mentioned before, but I think people are misunderstanding the article.
Ya know, I seem to remember the Telegraph companies did somethin' along these lines with the railroads (not with conduit, however). Western Union at one point had 80% of the telegraph business and said that it's near monopolistic trade was in everyone's best interest because it was consistent. Hmmm, wonder where I've heard that before.
Will Con Ed learn from history?
Yah, we started having internal audits and I basically said "screw it" and started using OpenOffice 1.0.
.doc files don't get decoded correctly 100% of the time, but if they bought me the proper tools I wouldn't have to get stuff that is for free [grin].
Now, granted, MS
Now if we can just get of out the Windows rut...