It's difficult to really fault the company - in the end it is their product (no one debates that) and they have every right to charge what they wish.
Frankly, it's our fault for making MP3 a standard - but I guess it was best technology available a few years back.
I agree with other posters - hardware manufacturers will pay the cost and raise their prices by a buck or two. But as for software decoders, only companies like MS will be able to afford the licensing fees. This spells the end of GPL MP3 decoders.
It's time to start moving to OGG, and it's time to start putting pressure on hardware manufacturers to support it. OGG is the future.
You guys think they'll release this software to the public? Or is someone (probably someone in Congress) going to make the argument that "we'd be giving too much information to the enemy"?
Oh well, since no one else has said it: THEY SHOULD OPEN-SOURCE THE PROJECT!!!!!
I wonder - how hard would it be to write a script that checks Slashdot every minute, and upon finding a new story, automatically follow the link and copy it to a mirror?
I believe that this is the first Western country to take this stance. The German government seems to be under the influence of free software zealots, but they haven't ditched Microsoft yet. Norway might be the best test of what happens when avoiding Microsoft products becomes government policy.
But this will only affect upgrades - I doubt that the majority of departments are willing to give up their beloved Windows PC's.
One of China's primary motives in pushing for the adoption of Linux was its inherent mistrust of closed-source American software products.
I don't blame them - Microsoft could easily slip some backdoors into the Chinese-language version of Windows, especially if they were pressured to do by the State Department.
The Chinese won't give up Linux until Microsoft lets them see the code. The question is, can Microsoft trust the Chinese? In the U.S., Microsoft could take you to court for breaking a NDA - they have no such guarantees in China. Portions of Microsoft's treasured Windows source code might end up in Red Flag Linux.
Can anybody tell me why NASA would launch a satellite for "radio hobbyists"? That's unimaginable now - space is reserved for governments and corporations.
It would be interesting to give each robot a personality, have them play a game, and use the results to predict human behavior.
The next step would be to refine each personality, perhaps trying to emulate a real soccer player, and continue to use the robots to predict the outcome of a game or to find a particular weakness in a player.
Am I the only one that was a little freaked out when they announced ES - a computer significantly faster than any American supercomputer? Why hasn't this been brought up??
Japan already dominates the electronic and automobile industries, and all of a sudden it has the most powerful computer on the planet! The United States (or American companies) lead the world in the production and sales of computers: IBM, HP, Compaq, Apple - these are the brands that are on desks across the world. When people in other countries think "computers", they think America.
Take a look at the above graph - Japan is finally ahead in a race that's been going on for decades.
Come on, isn't anyone else a *little* disturbed?? We're no longer the best in an industry that frankly we've bet our future on, and by such a wide margin!
This is NOT A TROLL, and I have nothing against the Japanese - they make great stuff, but the computer industry belongs to AMERICA, and all of a sudden it looks like we've got a SERIOUS competitor.
Slashdot Mirror
Think of what might happen if the gazillions of AOL users started using Netscape when they upgrade to the next version of AOL!!!!!
AOL has the power to change the browser demographics of the web.
Frankly, it's our fault for making MP3 a standard - but I guess it was best technology available a few years back.
I agree with other posters - hardware manufacturers will pay the cost and raise their prices by a buck or two. But as for software decoders, only companies like MS will be able to afford the licensing fees. This spells the end of GPL MP3 decoders.
It's time to start moving to OGG, and it's time to start putting pressure on hardware manufacturers to support it. OGG is the future.
I hate to say it, but it's cheaper to go the MCSD route, AND you've got significantly better odds of finding a job.
Oh well, since no one else has said it: THEY SHOULD OPEN-SOURCE THE PROJECT!!!!!
Hmmmm.... time to bring out the PHP reference.
But this will only affect upgrades - I doubt that the majority of departments are willing to give up their beloved Windows PC's.
I don't blame them - Microsoft could easily slip some backdoors into the Chinese-language version of Windows, especially if they were pressured to do by the State Department.
The Chinese won't give up Linux until Microsoft lets them see the code. The question is, can Microsoft trust the Chinese? In the U.S., Microsoft could take you to court for breaking a NDA - they have no such guarantees in China. Portions of Microsoft's treasured Windows source code might end up in Red Flag Linux.
Did we have a budget surplus or something?
Combine that sweeeeet network with one of the Sony Ericsson phone, and you'll be able to post cheesy comment on Slashdot while stuck in traffice.
The next step would be to refine each personality, perhaps trying to emulate a real soccer player, and continue to use the robots to predict the outcome of a game or to find a particular weakness in a player.
It would at least be popular with gamblers. :)
Japan already dominates the electronic and automobile industries, and all of a sudden it has the most powerful computer on the planet! The United States (or American companies) lead the world in the production and sales of computers: IBM, HP, Compaq, Apple - these are the brands that are on desks across the world. When people in other countries think "computers", they think America.
http://www.es.jamstec.go.jp/esc/eng/images/g7_7_4. gif
Take a look at the above graph - Japan is finally ahead in a race that's been going on for decades.
Come on, isn't anyone else a *little* disturbed?? We're no longer the best in an industry that frankly we've bet our future on, and by such a wide margin!
This is NOT A TROLL, and I have nothing against the Japanese - they make great stuff, but the computer industry belongs to AMERICA, and all of a sudden it looks like we've got a SERIOUS competitor.