I can understand their desire to maintain their copyrights. They have enough fronts to fight with the casual piracy with file sharing that was featured at the Grammys. (I can find a whole bunch of problems with that speech, but that's another post.) They need to cover the costs of running a business. A 14/100 cent royalty is irritating, but it wouldn't be nearly as bad if it had to be retroactive. If it could meet halfway and charge the royalty starting when the DMCA took effect, it would be more reasonal. Still a hassle to the smaller broadcasters, sure.
On another note: it may help the DMCA's image if it cut the smaller stations a bit of slack. The stations can bring newer and more off-the-beaten-track music to listeners's attentions. They can find the music at the CD store and, in a round-about way, cover the fees. Assuming a price of $15, one CD could pay for about 107 songs playable on-air. This leniency can also make any anti-trust prosecutions that might crop up think twice, since the slack towards "the little guy" shows it's not out to crush the competition for the airwaves and playback rights.
Yes, it's a comic-book-to-movie. Most people didn't expect to go and find a fine piece of cinematic history. They went to see a vampire flick. For what they went to see, this movie was pretty decent. At least you could remember who the major characters were, unlike, say, Resident Evil. You cheer for Blade while he hacks up the undead, while you wait for what's-her'name to run away from the shuffling corpses. I liked RE when it first came out, but seeing Blade II reminded me of what Resident Evil could have been. Now I bide my time until the next foray into survival horror...(sarcasm) Scooby Doo! (/sarcasm)
I've been asking a few people about what they like/don't like about their machines. These are a few of the common threads:
It ain't broke, so don't fix it. As much as I cringe at people using things like AOL and Windows, it does what they want. Many people want to stick with what they have, and won't upgrade unless there is a good reason to.
What do you mean, I can't put it on my machine? Another factor is sticker shock. WIth most upgrades, people have either bought piecemeal upgrades (memory, hard drives, etc.) or bit the bullet and bought a new one every few years. Usually when they upgrade, it's with the assumption that they can bring most of their software onto the new machine and it will work as told. Given that many upgrades do not go as smoothly as intended, there is usually either a local geek to fix the problem or a repair store. Buying a new computer which cannot use anything hardware from the old machine makes some people wary.
Where's the Start button? Once users find something useful that they use often, they expect future versions of what they have to include it. Most users don't have the technical knowledge that many Slashdot readers have. If they can't grasp a concept quickly, they will get irritated to the point of ditching what might be a good upgrade to go back to something they's familiar with.
This machine is working fine. I have more important things to think about than getting a new computer The economy is still improving, but cost is always an issue. Apples and Windows machines have different standards on how much you get out of a purchase. As someone in another article pointed out, you can buy a pretty decent Windows machine for the price of the low-end current Macs.
My IT guy said he doesn't support it. Many industries are firmly entrenched by Microsoft. Servers, workstations, and personal electronics have to be simple enough for most users and administrators to quickly phase into the workplace. Many IT staff do not want to deal with cross-platform compatibilities and supporting users for multiple operating systems. If someone says they can't get mail, they want their job to be as simple as possible. Read from a list, nod, and wait for the next call. On top of that, a noticeable portion of IT personnel don't know anything beyond Windows because that's all they were taught in Certification Courses 101. They don't want to learn, so they convince Management that ti would be too cost-prohibitive to support multiple operating systems.
Finally, the person may just not be looking for a new computer of any kind right now. It's difficult to convince someone to buy something they don't need or want. Apples are good computers. They have some very appealing features. But would you buy a high-end car because of a few good commercials? Computers are an investment, and the normal user wants something that's "good enough".
A cross-platform compatibility would be great. However, it would have several hurdles to overcome before it accepts widespread use.
1) Performance - As others have already stated, Java is made for compatibility, not for speed. Most mid-range applications would start to drag down the machine, while hardware-specific code will enhance the speed and execution of the application. The games mentioned in the article are not hardware-intensive (You don't Know Jack, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Majestic), so they can transition to Java easily enough. For specific programming projects, such as graphically intensive games, many developers will probably stick to current standards or in-house programming languages.
2) Industry Support - XP's omission of a native Java RTE shows that not all developers are willing to go with Sun's development software. Additionally, many people buy consoles for specific software applications. If the need for a proprietary standard is removed, then people will go for whichever hardware setup is easiest to acquire. The game companies can't force people to get specific consoles to play games on. Yes, most of the video game consoles sell at near-cost (if not below), but many games are identified with a certain platform. Also recall a few years back, when Nintendo sued developer companies that didn't get its Seal of Approval.
Cross-platform programs would be appealing to consumers, but it will come down to if Java programming will find acceptance among other companies.
The developer responded that the realistic real-time rendering they wanted to do would require 18,000 times more processing power than what was available with the PSOne.
It's difficult to imagine what sort of rendering in a game would require this much power behind it. Then again, I remember when a 1 Gigabyte server was huge. I also wonder that, if the plan for distributed processing is to be successful with multiple PlayStation consoles, how many users would be willing to leave their PlayStation(#)s running all the time for other people to use. On top of that, how would Sony propose to network the consoles togeher? The networking prospects for the current-generation PS2s have occasional problems running the software it already has for networked gaming beyond a jury-rigged LAN.
In regards to why would Sony want Linux on their PSx consoles... An audience of avid PS2 users experimenting with a robust TCP/IP (Internet communication) protocol. Fans will also receive complete documentation with the kit, which includes all the technical details of the PS2 hardware. Normally this info is only available to game developers. Again, Linux for PSx isn't going to rake in millions for Sony, but there may be different benefits for hobbyist developers. It won't be for everyone, but if you're into trying new things, then feel free.
The "Gestural Interface" seems to be the most interesting out of what the article offered. It might be a step closer to a virtual reality interface without needing an expensive headset. It might change gaming for the console. Then again, it depends on the games that use said hardware. It'll be interesting to see how many of these ideas actually come to fruition, and how many of them become Vaporware.
I work with adaptive equipment where I work. It becomes increasingly frustrating over the last few years.
1) Several prominent habits when designing web pages (lack of ALT tags for images, a lack of non-Flash options on popular web sites, and visual enhancements that are lost on people who can't see them) keep many people with visual disabilities from finding what they need or want on the Internet.
2) Many in the school I work in are taught to not use the mouse and use keyboard shortcuts. Technically, there are mouse emulation procedures by using the numpad, but they are not loaded until after Windows loads completely. This is especially true for a terminal that is shared by sighted and non-sighted users.
3) I have found that most of the users that I teach and support are not willing to relearn to use their computer every few years. Many of them are still on Windows 98 because many pieces of their adaptive equipment/software are not available for WIndows XP yet. Even trying to run them in emulation mode doesn't guarantee much success.
With these in mind, the picture might be viable, but only as an alternative to people who cannot grasp the importance of good passwords. Yes, many of the visual passwords will be fairly simple to solve. Yes, it will be harder to administer visual passwords. Yes, many people will find the idea too complicated when it is supposed to simplify logins and make them more visually appealing. Personally, I would want to keep to using long alphanumeric passwords. But then there are people like where I work that want things as simple as possible.
Re:Don't follow that link!
on
Resident Evil
·
· Score: 1
I have the movie file available via Kazaa. I should've left my computer on before I left for work this morning. Sorry, folks.
I have a blast working at a School for the Visually Impaired. I've been tutoring a few people in basic computer usage, and one of the first questions I get is "How do I get on the Internet?". We have a special lab just for Internet training. Not only are we teaching the students how to use adaptive technology to get to where they want, but also good surfing habits. During lectures and practice times, the computers are restricted to certain sites through a software firewall. When the classes are out of session, the firewall opens up more places.
I've asked several of the other IT people in the school, and they've found that limiting the Net usage to places that are important to the school (learning sites, news, email training) and so on helps to cut down on the computer infections. We also find that once we teach the students and faculty safe surfing habits (and not letting them stray until they've illustrated said habits), they tend to stick with the teachings.
Yes, we still get complaints that people can't get where they want to, and I feel bad having to be the bearer of bad news. I'm lucky that the people I work with now are willing to learn. Computers at work can be extremely useful, and that is why we dedicate several classes to using office applications (to give the students with disabilities employable skills) and how to avoid potential abuses such as viruses and common exploits. In any case, many of the incidents we have had are from people who had forgotten what we taught. We're humans; these things happen. Once everyone started to reach an understanding of why we do what we do, things began ranning much more smoothly.
Okay. This'll teach me not to check my email. My review was accepted. There was an error, and I sent two of it by mistake. I was told it should be posted by tomorrow. Sorry about the confusion.
If you believe everything that all of the sides are saying, this is what a verdict with about Microsoft might do:
Guilty - Microsoft applications get segmented, they can't/won't provide new services, they fold, the computer industry implodes, economy collapses.
Innocent - Microsoft keeps up its anti-competitive practices, other corporations shrivel up, software becomes bloated on its own faulty coding without competition, and Microsoft controls everything.
If you believe everything, no one's a winner. Sure, it's a hyperbole. Try explaining this trial to someone who think no Windows means no computers. (Sadly, I've seen my fair share of those people.)
I wrote a review of Resident Evil this morning, but I found out it was rejected. I don't know why, but it's their decision. I'll keep the review on hand, in case anyone wants to read it.
Slashdot Mirror
On another note: it may help the DMCA's image if it cut the smaller stations a bit of slack. The stations can bring newer and more off-the-beaten-track music to listeners's attentions. They can find the music at the CD store and, in a round-about way, cover the fees. Assuming a price of $15, one CD could pay for about 107 songs playable on-air. This leniency can also make any anti-trust prosecutions that might crop up think twice, since the slack towards "the little guy" shows it's not out to crush the competition for the airwaves and playback rights.
Yes, it's a comic-book-to-movie. Most people didn't expect to go and find a fine piece of cinematic history. They went to see a vampire flick. For what they went to see, this movie was pretty decent. At least you could remember who the major characters were, unlike, say, Resident Evil. You cheer for Blade while he hacks up the undead, while you wait for what's-her'name to run away from the shuffling corpses. I liked RE when it first came out, but seeing Blade II reminded me of what Resident Evil could have been. Now I bide my time until the next foray into survival horror...(sarcasm) Scooby Doo! (/sarcasm)
It ain't broke, so don't fix it. As much as I cringe at people using things like AOL and Windows, it does what they want. Many people want to stick with what they have, and won't upgrade unless there is a good reason to.
What do you mean, I can't put it on my machine? Another factor is sticker shock. WIth most upgrades, people have either bought piecemeal upgrades (memory, hard drives, etc.) or bit the bullet and bought a new one every few years. Usually when they upgrade, it's with the assumption that they can bring most of their software onto the new machine and it will work as told. Given that many upgrades do not go as smoothly as intended, there is usually either a local geek to fix the problem or a repair store. Buying a new computer which cannot use anything hardware from the old machine makes some people wary.
Where's the Start button? Once users find something useful that they use often, they expect future versions of what they have to include it. Most users don't have the technical knowledge that many Slashdot readers have. If they can't grasp a concept quickly, they will get irritated to the point of ditching what might be a good upgrade to go back to something they's familiar with.
This machine is working fine. I have more important things to think about than getting a new computer The economy is still improving, but cost is always an issue. Apples and Windows machines have different standards on how much you get out of a purchase. As someone in another article pointed out, you can buy a pretty decent Windows machine for the price of the low-end current Macs.
My IT guy said he doesn't support it. Many industries are firmly entrenched by Microsoft. Servers, workstations, and personal electronics have to be simple enough for most users and administrators to quickly phase into the workplace. Many IT staff do not want to deal with cross-platform compatibilities and supporting users for multiple operating systems. If someone says they can't get mail, they want their job to be as simple as possible. Read from a list, nod, and wait for the next call. On top of that, a noticeable portion of IT personnel don't know anything beyond Windows because that's all they were taught in Certification Courses 101. They don't want to learn, so they convince Management that ti would be too cost-prohibitive to support multiple operating systems.
Finally, the person may just not be looking for a new computer of any kind right now. It's difficult to convince someone to buy something they don't need or want. Apples are good computers. They have some very appealing features. But would you buy a high-end car because of a few good commercials? Computers are an investment, and the normal user wants something that's "good enough".
1) Performance - As others have already stated, Java is made for compatibility, not for speed. Most mid-range applications would start to drag down the machine, while hardware-specific code will enhance the speed and execution of the application. The games mentioned in the article are not hardware-intensive (You don't Know Jack, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Majestic), so they can transition to Java easily enough. For specific programming projects, such as graphically intensive games, many developers will probably stick to current standards or in-house programming languages.
2) Industry Support - XP's omission of a native Java RTE shows that not all developers are willing to go with Sun's development software. Additionally, many people buy consoles for specific software applications. If the need for a proprietary standard is removed, then people will go for whichever hardware setup is easiest to acquire. The game companies can't force people to get specific consoles to play games on. Yes, most of the video game consoles sell at near-cost (if not below), but many games are identified with a certain platform. Also recall a few years back, when Nintendo sued developer companies that didn't get its Seal of Approval.
Cross-platform programs would be appealing to consumers, but it will come down to if Java programming will find acceptance among other companies.
It's difficult to imagine what sort of rendering in a game would require this much power behind it. Then again, I remember when a 1 Gigabyte server was huge. I also wonder that, if the plan for distributed processing is to be successful with multiple PlayStation consoles, how many users would be willing to leave their PlayStation(#)s running all the time for other people to use. On top of that, how would Sony propose to network the consoles togeher? The networking prospects for the current-generation PS2s have occasional problems running the software it already has for networked gaming beyond a jury-rigged LAN.
In regards to why would Sony want Linux on their PSx consoles... An audience of avid PS2 users experimenting with a robust TCP/IP (Internet communication) protocol. Fans will also receive complete documentation with the kit, which includes all the technical details of the PS2 hardware. Normally this info is only available to game developers. Again, Linux for PSx isn't going to rake in millions for Sony, but there may be different benefits for hobbyist developers. It won't be for everyone, but if you're into trying new things, then feel free.
The "Gestural Interface" seems to be the most interesting out of what the article offered. It might be a step closer to a virtual reality interface without needing an expensive headset. It might change gaming for the console. Then again, it depends on the games that use said hardware. It'll be interesting to see how many of these ideas actually come to fruition, and how many of them become Vaporware.
I work with adaptive equipment where I work. It becomes increasingly frustrating over the last few years. 1) Several prominent habits when designing web pages (lack of ALT tags for images, a lack of non-Flash options on popular web sites, and visual enhancements that are lost on people who can't see them) keep many people with visual disabilities from finding what they need or want on the Internet. 2) Many in the school I work in are taught to not use the mouse and use keyboard shortcuts. Technically, there are mouse emulation procedures by using the numpad, but they are not loaded until after Windows loads completely. This is especially true for a terminal that is shared by sighted and non-sighted users. 3) I have found that most of the users that I teach and support are not willing to relearn to use their computer every few years. Many of them are still on Windows 98 because many pieces of their adaptive equipment/software are not available for WIndows XP yet. Even trying to run them in emulation mode doesn't guarantee much success. With these in mind, the picture might be viable, but only as an alternative to people who cannot grasp the importance of good passwords. Yes, many of the visual passwords will be fairly simple to solve. Yes, it will be harder to administer visual passwords. Yes, many people will find the idea too complicated when it is supposed to simplify logins and make them more visually appealing. Personally, I would want to keep to using long alphanumeric passwords. But then there are people like where I work that want things as simple as possible.
I have the movie file available via Kazaa. I should've left my computer on before I left for work this morning. Sorry, folks.
I've asked several of the other IT people in the school, and they've found that limiting the Net usage to places that are important to the school (learning sites, news, email training) and so on helps to cut down on the computer infections. We also find that once we teach the students and faculty safe surfing habits (and not letting them stray until they've illustrated said habits), they tend to stick with the teachings.
Yes, we still get complaints that people can't get where they want to, and I feel bad having to be the bearer of bad news. I'm lucky that the people I work with now are willing to learn. Computers at work can be extremely useful, and that is why we dedicate several classes to using office applications (to give the students with disabilities employable skills) and how to avoid potential abuses such as viruses and common exploits. In any case, many of the incidents we have had are from people who had forgotten what we taught. We're humans; these things happen. Once everyone started to reach an understanding of why we do what we do, things began ranning much more smoothly.
Okay. This'll teach me not to check my email. My review was accepted. There was an error, and I sent two of it by mistake. I was told it should be posted by tomorrow. Sorry about the confusion.
Guilty - Microsoft applications get segmented, they can't/won't provide new services, they fold, the computer industry implodes, economy collapses.
Innocent - Microsoft keeps up its anti-competitive practices, other corporations shrivel up, software becomes bloated on its own faulty coding without competition, and Microsoft controls everything.
If you believe everything, no one's a winner. Sure, it's a hyperbole. Try explaining this trial to someone who think no Windows means no computers. (Sadly, I've seen my fair share of those people.)
I wrote a review of Resident Evil this morning, but I found out it was rejected. I don't know why, but it's their decision. I'll keep the review on hand, in case anyone wants to read it.