If it weren't for the ubiquitous cellphones: 1) another plane would have crashed in washington 2) more collumbine kids would have dies 3) People would not have been able to say their last words to their loved one before they jumped from the burning tower. but I guess you being annoyed is more important than being able to contact people in an emergency.
I think what most people are pissed off about isn't the use of cell phones in EMERGENCY situations, but the near-constant use some people seem to require with them. Personally, I've seen people take calls in theaters (loudly!), at plays, I've literally had people run straight into me because they were babbling on their cell phones and didn't realize where the hell they were walking. So before bashing the bashers, keep in mind where they're coming from.
Someone explain to me why Google is being slagged for removing these items from their indexes? Yes they're a popular search engine, but at what point did the idea surface that they were required to maintain some kind of free-speech or anti-censorship policy? It's their site, their database -- they can do with it whatever they want. It's also not as if Google has taken down the sites it's removing from their indexes -- as much as I object to the content those sites might have on them, they're still available for people to read.
The third world is a good option. Cheap wages, highly educated middle-upper classes, good connections to the I'net. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Uruguay are obvious (and alphabetically sorted!) candidates for hosting OS endeavors.
Yes, but the third world is in no way connected to the lovable mascot of Linux -- the noble penguin. Antarctica is the most logical place for a Linux company.:)
Don't worry, you're not missing much. The teeny tiny lose-them-all-the-time convenience was offset by the horribly restrictive DRM scheme built into the tech.
And I do think the games are _partly_ to blame. (Note that I said partly, not completly.) Some games are very addictive, and can trap people in for hours. I've had my school mark drop because I've wasted my time on pointless games.
Playing GTA3 did not make me want to go out and bang a hooker, then shoot her to get my money back. It's a game, and if people have a shred of self-control or any kind of grasp on reality they don't let the game affect their lives. Certainly not to the extremes the man in the story did. There was a LOT more at work there than a gaming addiction.
Regarding apathy towards other people's deaths, welcome to planet earth. People are dying all over the world right now and nobody really cares until it's someone they know. Regarding this particular guy, in effect he committed suicide, something which is cowardly and does NOT deserve a single shred of respect.
Looks like the main use of this model will be for people tippy-toeing their way into the handheld scene. It'd be great for people trying to shed paper and pen scheduling, and an excellent, cheap and convenient way to carry around email through Outlook sync. The only downside of this is the two megs of ram -- come on, RAM is CHEAP, they should have been able to put a full 8 in there or at least 4 for the same price. Oh well.
Did a little Googling, found the following definition of Quaoar. Don't know if it's real or not. *shrug*
Quaoar: Their only god who "came down from heaven; and, after reducing chaos to order, out the world on the back of seven giants. He then created the lower animals," and then mankind. Los Angeles County Indians, California
Let me go no record as saying I totally agree with you.:) It SHOULD be legal, and in fact it kinda sorta is (hence the grey market status). It IS only a tool, and it IS your hardware. All I'm getting at is, people shouldn't be flogging Microsoft for doing what they think is in their best interests. And it may not cause damage outside your xbos now, but what happens when xbox live is turned on, and mod chippers are in there abusing the service? Using it to hack other peoples' xboxes, cheat in games, whatever? Hypothetical I know, but what if?
Actually I'm not "arguing", I like to think I'm carrying on a discussion. And I won't be baited into going for the guns and lockpicks example.:P
And I reiterate: no, it doesn't. You can open it up and turn the xbox into anything you want, they're just making it more difficult for someone else to do the work for you.
That line of reasoning is flawed. YOu can still do all of those things with your hardware and I doubt Microsoft would care at all -- turn around and take your ubermodchip and make a business around it an they might take notice, in a not-so-nice way. In that it's VERY different from a soldering iron. Your mod chip is meant to do one thing and one thing only: circumvent some kind of hardware based protection they've put in there for a reason. Don't compare it to a tool like a soldering iron, or a screwdriver. THAT's bullshit.
Shutting down mod chips does NOT mean you're unable to do what you want with your hardware. You can design and build your own mod chip, put it in there and go to town, no big deal. Or turn it into a toaster if you like.:)
Good points throughout. One thing I'd like to qualify further is, I'm not saying that they have every right under law x section y subsection z to shut down Lik Sang. I'm saying that it's entirely within their right as a company to make whatever moves they want, within the established laws, to stonewall mod chip manufacturers -- be that as an ad campaign against it, or buying out the whole company and dissolving it. And they're not being anticompetetive in doing so; Microsoft doesn't make mod chips, and Lik Sang's business doesn't endorse other consoles in favor if the XBox.
I can't think of a more apples and oranges comparison than that. Or wait, maybe not. What if those spark plugs had some kind of magical ability to let you get gasoline for free? Or if the spark plugs in your car allowed you to blow out my tires when driving down the road? Someone might get concerned about those spark plugs, oh yes.
In the same way, Microsoft is trying to stop piracy of games and hacking that could potentially spill over into its XBox Live service. They want to make that as secure as possible to prevent abuse of the system and other users, and stomping on commercialized hacking ventures is probably their way of sending out a message. Again, this does not stop you from opening up your xbox and replacing its OS with Linux, or sticking a fishtank in it. You bought it, its yours.
I'm already reading stuff on here from users about how MS is now telling them what to do with the property they bought. This is NOT what is happening! You as a user can open up your XBox and hack the hardware as much as you want, hack it so it bypasses whatever security's in there, they won't care. However, take that hack and turn it into a business for yourself by manufacturing hardware and selling it IS what they will move against. In my opinion, they have every right to do that, and it has nothing to do with a monopoly on anything.
Just my opinion! Comments?
Wasn't going to ask, had assumed already.:) Agreeably that's a very nice feature to have, voice chat. I can think of many games I've played where it would have been easier to bark an order than stop, type it, and get gibbed because I was typing.:)
Hopefully when you're no longer under NDA you'll be able to post a review of some kind!:)
All you've served to point out is that, no matter what platform you choose to run, you should still be diligent in maintaining the security of the system.
No matter how secure Linux claims to be, people should take the perception of default installs being invulnerable out of the box with a huge grain of salt, and give it a good look for anything they can turn off or plug up. The same goes for Windows users, ESPECIALLY for them in my opinion.:) If anything this whole Slapper issue should serve to educate both sides of the Windows vs. Linux debate that security problems exist for everyone no matter what you run.
Hmm...manipulation, greed, and Microsoft. It's all so...familiar, isn't it?
Capitalism at its worst indeed. But, the goal of a competetive market is to, well, compete. It has to be hard for companies to do that without crushing their competition. Imagine if there was no restrictions to that effect? What kind of monopoly would MS have today? *shudder*
You're very correct regarding the Nintendo thing, I totally forgot about how they rampaged through the 80's. The SMS was a pretty cool system too, had some neat games.
You know, I'm with you on this one. I know of friends who decided to jump on the Linux bandwagon, installed the OS and associated daemons and programs, had a fun time customizing their desktop, etc. Never put a single shred of time and effort into looking into any aspects of security. Asking them, the response was, nine times out of ten, "It's Linux man. Security out of the box." or something to that effect. These same people, myself included, when installing Windows head straight to the Control Panel and start deactivating nonessential services as one of the first steps. Subsequently, virus scanners, firewall software (ZoneAlarm, whatever), etc. Hell even my father hits WindowsUpdate and Norton LiveUpdate like it's a religion or something.
Not sure why you thought a PS2 sequel would ever be in the offing from a company where 49% was owned by the Big N, but hey, hope blooms eternal:) And at any rate, the Rare-Nintendo relationship was going strong for a long time -- after all, if not for Nintendo lending Rare the DK license, who knows where Rare'd be? Sure there was Golden Eye...but that was a long time after DK Country 1,2,3!
Chances are good that any developer would write their games for all platforms nowadays. That's the trend, and regardless of who has majority ownership of it (Nintendo, Sony, whatever) it's in the best interest of everyone that the game can be sold and played on all platforms. Microsoft is different -- they need the exclusive games to build a fanbase, otherwise there's no incentive to buy the machine.
Unfortunately you're not going to get much on the 'imaginative developers' from Rare-as-it-is-now:( I forget which game it was (either Perfect Dark or Goldeneye) but most of the developers left a year or so ago to form a new company. I think I read they were working on a new GC game, something with monkeys (could be WAY off on that though).
Weren't they the guys who formed Insomnia (Insomniac?) Games, and are getting set to release Timesplitters 2 for the PS2? Timesplitters 1 was a simple, yet incredibly fun game to play (especially the multiplayer stuff).
Sure, Perfect Dark, JFG & Conkers...but none of them sold exceptionally well...
I attribute that to the fact that at least two of those games that I know of used the memory upgrade for the N64. Although not required, it was pushed heavily. The N64 was dead at the time anyway, the PS1 had slaughtered it and the PS2 was coming soon.
It'll definitely be interesting to see where they go from here, and whether the new platform gives them the ability to produce good games that will sell. Myself, I'm not a huge fan of the X-Box, but mostly because of the fact that there's no games exclusive to that platform that really make me want to purchase it. Between my windows PC and my PS2, I'm in a pretty happy gaming place right now.:)
Slashdot Mirror
I think what most people are pissed off about isn't the use of cell phones in EMERGENCY situations, but the near-constant use some people seem to require with them. Personally, I've seen people take calls in theaters (loudly!), at plays, I've literally had people run straight into me because they were babbling on their cell phones and didn't realize where the hell they were walking. So before bashing the bashers, keep in mind where they're coming from.
Someone explain to me why Google is being slagged for removing these items from their indexes? Yes they're a popular search engine, but at what point did the idea surface that they were required to maintain some kind of free-speech or anti-censorship policy? It's their site, their database -- they can do with it whatever they want. It's also not as if Google has taken down the sites it's removing from their indexes -- as much as I object to the content those sites might have on them, they're still available for people to read.
Imagine what ICQ.com will look like on a screen that reformats everything so it only scrolls vertically. Page 1/1824, woo.
Yes, but the third world is in no way connected to the lovable mascot of Linux -- the noble penguin. Antarctica is the most logical place for a Linux company. :)
I'll still be using my MD recorder. :)
Playing GTA3 did not make me want to go out and bang a hooker, then shoot her to get my money back. It's a game, and if people have a shred of self-control or any kind of grasp on reality they don't let the game affect their lives. Certainly not to the extremes the man in the story did. There was a LOT more at work there than a gaming addiction.
Regarding apathy towards other people's deaths, welcome to planet earth. People are dying all over the world right now and nobody really cares until it's someone they know. Regarding this particular guy, in effect he committed suicide, something which is cowardly and does NOT deserve a single shred of respect.
Just my 2c worth.
Given a long enough time frame, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
Not hard to blow $40 at Mac's. I think a pack of Nerds there is like 4 bucks.
Looks like the main use of this model will be for people tippy-toeing their way into the handheld scene. It'd be great for people trying to shed paper and pen scheduling, and an excellent, cheap and convenient way to carry around email through Outlook sync. The only downside of this is the two megs of ram -- come on, RAM is CHEAP, they should have been able to put a full 8 in there or at least 4 for the same price. Oh well.
Quaoar: Their only god who "came down from heaven; and, after reducing chaos to order, out the world on the back of seven giants. He then created the lower animals," and then mankind. Los Angeles County Indians, California
Welcome to Slashdot, man. :)
Let me go no record as saying I totally agree with you. :) It SHOULD be legal, and in fact it kinda sorta is (hence the grey market status). It IS only a tool, and it IS your hardware. All I'm getting at is, people shouldn't be flogging Microsoft for doing what they think is in their best interests. And it may not cause damage outside your xbos now, but what happens when xbox live is turned on, and mod chippers are in there abusing the service? Using it to hack other peoples' xboxes, cheat in games, whatever? Hypothetical I know, but what if?
And I reiterate: no, it doesn't. You can open it up and turn the xbox into anything you want, they're just making it more difficult for someone else to do the work for you.
That line of reasoning is flawed. YOu can still do all of those things with your hardware and I doubt Microsoft would care at all -- turn around and take your ubermodchip and make a business around it an they might take notice, in a not-so-nice way. In that it's VERY different from a soldering iron. Your mod chip is meant to do one thing and one thing only: circumvent some kind of hardware based protection they've put in there for a reason. Don't compare it to a tool like a soldering iron, or a screwdriver. THAT's bullshit.
Shutting down mod chips does NOT mean you're unable to do what you want with your hardware. You can design and build your own mod chip, put it in there and go to town, no big deal. Or turn it into a toaster if you like. :)
Both of these things probably happen a lot more than you or I are aware of. :)
Good points throughout. One thing I'd like to qualify further is, I'm not saying that they have every right under law x section y subsection z to shut down Lik Sang. I'm saying that it's entirely within their right as a company to make whatever moves they want, within the established laws, to stonewall mod chip manufacturers -- be that as an ad campaign against it, or buying out the whole company and dissolving it. And they're not being anticompetetive in doing so; Microsoft doesn't make mod chips, and Lik Sang's business doesn't endorse other consoles in favor if the XBox.
In the same way, Microsoft is trying to stop piracy of games and hacking that could potentially spill over into its XBox Live service. They want to make that as secure as possible to prevent abuse of the system and other users, and stomping on commercialized hacking ventures is probably their way of sending out a message. Again, this does not stop you from opening up your xbox and replacing its OS with Linux, or sticking a fishtank in it. You bought it, its yours.
I'm already reading stuff on here from users about how MS is now telling them what to do with the property they bought. This is NOT what is happening! You as a user can open up your XBox and hack the hardware as much as you want, hack it so it bypasses whatever security's in there, they won't care. However, take that hack and turn it into a business for yourself by manufacturing hardware and selling it IS what they will move against. In my opinion, they have every right to do that, and it has nothing to do with a monopoly on anything. Just my opinion! Comments?
Hopefully when you're no longer under NDA you'll be able to post a review of some kind! :)
You want to maybe qualify that a bit more by giving us some examples of WHY it's so great? :) Or are you under an NDA of some kind?
No matter how secure Linux claims to be, people should take the perception of default installs being invulnerable out of the box with a huge grain of salt, and give it a good look for anything they can turn off or plug up. The same goes for Windows users, ESPECIALLY for them in my opinion. :) If anything this whole Slapper issue should serve to educate both sides of the Windows vs. Linux debate that security problems exist for everyone no matter what you run.
Capitalism at its worst indeed. But, the goal of a competetive market is to, well, compete. It has to be hard for companies to do that without crushing their competition. Imagine if there was no restrictions to that effect? What kind of monopoly would MS have today? *shudder*
You're very correct regarding the Nintendo thing, I totally forgot about how they rampaged through the 80's. The SMS was a pretty cool system too, had some neat games.
Good post man.
Chances are good that any developer would write their games for all platforms nowadays. That's the trend, and regardless of who has majority ownership of it (Nintendo, Sony, whatever) it's in the best interest of everyone that the game can be sold and played on all platforms. Microsoft is different -- they need the exclusive games to build a fanbase, otherwise there's no incentive to buy the machine.
Unfortunately you're not going to get much on the 'imaginative developers' from Rare-as-it-is-now :( I forget which game it was (either Perfect Dark or Goldeneye) but most of the developers left a year or so ago to form a new company. I think I read they were working on a new GC game, something with monkeys (could be WAY off on that though).
Weren't they the guys who formed Insomnia (Insomniac?) Games, and are getting set to release Timesplitters 2 for the PS2? Timesplitters 1 was a simple, yet incredibly fun game to play (especially the multiplayer stuff).
Sure, Perfect Dark, JFG & Conkers...but none of them sold exceptionally well...
I attribute that to the fact that at least two of those games that I know of used the memory upgrade for the N64. Although not required, it was pushed heavily. The N64 was dead at the time anyway, the PS1 had slaughtered it and the PS2 was coming soon.
It'll definitely be interesting to see where they go from here, and whether the new platform gives them the ability to produce good games that will sell. Myself, I'm not a huge fan of the X-Box, but mostly because of the fact that there's no games exclusive to that platform that really make me want to purchase it. Between my windows PC and my PS2, I'm in a pretty happy gaming place right now. :)