"The interface for the type of equipment is well established and ergonomic, the remote or clicker.The problem is not with the interface but with the lack of interface. The man wants his clicker empowered, not a new audio-video interface."
I'm not quite sure if you're calling for a new interface or not. In any case, the remote clicker is certainly a well established interface (which is indeed a good thing), but that doesn't make it ideal (consider the rotary phone). The clicker was also developed for a different task - not for browsing through a large archive of files.
"I do not know of a product that allows universal-remote control of a Linux PC."
WRT the sort of remote control I'm talking about, VNC should do the trick.
I have a setup similar to the original poster's. My soultion was simply to use my wi-fi laptop to remote control the desktop of the server. That approach could prove quite handy & save him a lot of money...
fwiw, the remote control solution that I'm suggesting actually has little to do with my software -- it'll work with any server-side audio application.
IHMO, the ability to remotely contol the desktop of another box, whose sound out is patched into a stereo can be very handy. Simply think of the remote desktop client as a universal remote contolling the server.
And with respect to my software -- because it was designed to scale to any sized screen, you should even be able to squeeze it into a remote desktop client on something like a wi-fi enabled pocket PC.
In any case, I just think the idea of using remote desktop software (such as VNC, and Win XP's Remote Desktop) should at least worth keeping in the bag-of-tricks.
Humbly, I think you'll find Andromeda to be quite handy. Picture this: a central box running a web server. Among other things, it stores your whole MP3/OGG collection. You can use any browser on your local network to tap into and stream from the archive. Furthermore, if you have decent upstream bandwidth you could simply play your files from *anywhere* on the Internet.
And the clients don't need ay special software (apart from a browser and a player).
Finally, I use remote desktop software to 'hit play' on the server itself (which is wired to the stereo).
So, with one central server, I can play MP3's over my LAN, out over the net, and remotely to my stereo.
In the name of full disclosure, the parent to this post is by a longtime Andromeda user, who went on to write this profile for Shift.com.
One other tip I'd like to toss into the soup: remote desktop software (VNC, XP's Remote Desktop, pcAnywhere, etc...) can be quite handy for remotely controlling audio on a server. For instance, I keep a spare PC running Andromeda in the corner, wired to my stereo, and I remotely control it with my laptop over wi-fi. One neat thing about that approach is that it'll work with any audio source (such as other web sites, Rhapsody, internet radio, etc).
"Have you been able to get your money whenever you want it though?"
I've never had any problems with PayPal whatsoever, nor has anybody ever complained to me.
Frankly, I find PayPal quite handy. Not only can I charge a fixed amount for my software, I can also easly send customized amounts for special situations.
And compared to every other service I've looked at, the rates they charge are next to nothing(their 3% vs. as much as 20%).
Personally, my experience with PayPal has always been very good. I use it to sell my software. Whenever I've called their free support number, I get a human within a few minutes -- and a human that can answer my questions.
Well speaking for the only site whose PageRank I regularly keep track of (my site) the new algorithm hasn't changed all that much. I, for one, am now coming up a little higher.
Re:1st generation, hardly.
on
High Score
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· Score: 1
"I graduated in 82, and I had a personal computer."
Yes, we graduated in '86, but we got our computers in '81 (we were 12,13). I think it's accurate to label that the first generation of kids to grow up with their own computers.
In fact I agree with you. Personally, I've never quite understood the justifications for trading copyrighted material over the P2P networks. In fact, I think P2P is a pretty cool thing, but it's being held back by what is proving to be its primary use.
However, I do think there's a difference between mass anonymous downloading of copyrighted materials, and letting a friend play one of your CD's.
That's what my software does - it turns an MP3 collection into a streaming site. Most people use it to remotely access thier collection, and they may (or may not) choose to let a friend listen to something.
Now, I think that's quite a lot different than being able to download just about anything you can think of from people you don't know.
And the reason it's relevant is that the P2P networks provide a target, and that will eventually prove to be thier downfall. The Content Providers have something to shoot at, and eventually, the Bandwidth Providers will be helping them. If people want to be able to continue to access *thier* stuff over the network, they might want to have a few different options.
Yes, it looks like the Content Providers & Bandwith Providers are sparring, but don't believe the hype.
They are both big big business, and they are simply jockying for the best sweetheart deal. No doubt the Content Providers will, before long, be paying some sort of 'tax' to the Bandwith Providers to help break the P2P networks.
If you're at all technical, you should think about running your own Internet standards based server (ie. http, ftp, etc). If you want to make your files available via a streaming site, I hope you take a look at my approach, Andromeda.
But no matter what you eventually decide to do, to have control you have to take control.
A kinda, sorta, similar book...
on
High Score
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· Score: 2, Interesting
A friend from high school (we graduated in '86) wrote a book called Extra Life: Coming of Age in Cyberspace (excerpt here). It's mostly about being the first generation of kids to grow up with personal computers.
fwiw, I'm the 'Scott' with the Atari 800 mostly on the 4th & 5th pages of the excerpt.
"I for one, feel that there is more to those guys than just the hunger for money"
I'd just like to mention that sometimes people make the mistake of seeing a 'hunger for money' where there is no more than a hunger to pay bills.
Personally, I love my software, and my goal is not only to keep improving it, but also to make enough money to cover my very ascetic lifestyle, maybe have a kid someday.
I tried the tip jar for well over a year, and I'm telling you: it doesn't work. I had no choice, but to charge instead. Frankly, it's a bummer when people respond "you capitalist pig, you charge for software!" but hey, geez, it's just me, I work 70 hour weeks, and I require food.
I'd would think that the slashdot crowd would support the idea of independent programmers being able to pay their bills by making software that people love, in just the same way that they support the idea of independent musicians being able to pay their bills by making music that people love.
"Hmm. that is depressingly true, but I don`t think we should give up all hope on it...[snip]... the only thing missing from paying for music online instead of CD is that you get something tangible with CD"
Well if my experience is any indication, I definitely think we should give up on the tip jar. In my opinion, it leads to the impression among users that it's working, and that impression helps to excuse them from giving.
And as for 'the only thing missing from paying for music online' - it's not the lack of physical goods, it's that payment is optional.
Yes, it would be nice if people voultarily gave, but it's not going to happen (indeed some do, but I'd say that it's no more than a fraction of 1%).
As I see it, for there to be a real change in the power structure, there also needs to be a real change in cashflow. And in my opinion, the continued belief in the tip jar actually does us a disservice.
Goodness, this topic raises all of my favorite rants. Background: I've been developing my own streaming software for the last two years (it runs on top of web servers with PHP or ASP). It's not exactly 'radio', but instead it lets you browse and stream on demand. Anyways, here's some of my experience...
Bandwidth: the asymmetric nature of most home-based high-bandwith networking options is intended to make it easier for us to be consumers rather than producers of digital content. This is especially bad because it quite litereally makes it harder for indepenedent voices to be heard.
However, many of the high bandwidth providers, AOLTW for one, are also content providers, and are perfectly happy to keep the bandwidth deck stacked against independents.
Tip jars: Don't work. In the context of discussing P2P networks, the concept of tipping the artists often comes up. People don't part with their cash voluntarily. That goes for software, and it goes for music. Sure some people do, some times, but the practical percentage is so small as to be negligable.
Fairtunes is/was the leading centralized tip jar, founded by Slashdot regular Matt Goyer, now sold to Musiclink. It got lots of great press and feedback. Go there and search for tips to your favorite artist.
Personally, I think of myself (an independent programmer) as not entirely different from a independent musician. I tried for years to rely on a tip jar, but despite having tens of thousands of daily users it never paid for more than coffee.
Potential: In any case, the new infrstructures bring huge potential for positive change, but in my opinion that infrstructure also needs to do much better job of getting money to change hands, in order to garner real power, and tip jars won't cut it.
Nothing's wrong with a healthy dose of paranoia. fwiw, as far as I can tell the vast majority of Andromeda users use it to stream their MP3/OGG collections to themselves - it's not at all designed to be like the P2P networks...
Gnutella is a totally different thing - it's a file sharing network that you might use to build a file library. Andromeda, on the other hand, is great for taking that collection ant turning it into a streaming web site (for your home/office network, over the Internet, etc).
It's true that I'm trying to sell my work, but please don't think that makes me evil! I don't think I'm all that much different from the independent musicians who you hopefully support. It all part of my diabolical plans to pay my rent.
No surprise, they're going to keep coming. If you want your files to stay up, you should think about running your own site. You might try my software Andromeda, which runs on top of a web server (Apache, IIS, etc) that can do PHP or ASP.
You;ll get a snazzy, streaming web site, dynamic generated from your collection. Keep it to yourself, or let your friends in. It's your choice.
"I definitely do disagree that they should be part of the default language"
Well, as far as I'm concerned, I can't build XML support into my project until it's a standard feature of PHP. I don't want to bother my users with having to install assorted packages. All they should need is the standard PHP install.
"You should add the ability to download files and you will have a *killer* idea!"
Well, you'll be happy to know that you can indeed download files - just right-click a file name in the left-hand column, and choose 'save as'. fwiw, site operators can also configure Andromeda to disable the download links.
As for Google, since Andromeda generates web pages, Google can index that. Again, if you don't want to be indexed, you can run Andromeda behind a password, and/or set up a robots.txt file.
I'm curious to know what you think of Andromeda...
on
Kazaa Continues to Evolve
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· Score: 2, Interesting
"I await the day we come to/. to bury kazaa, not to praise it"
I'm just curious if you would consider my software Andromeda more friendly for your network. It's not like the main P2P networks insofar as you can't really use it as a mass anonymous downloader.
However, you can use it to stream your collection over a local network and/or over the Internet. Basically, it bulds a complete streaming web site from a collection of MP3 files. PHP and ASP versions are available.
There's no spyware, it doesn't need to talk 'outside' of your network, and it transfers over http so there typically aren't firewall hassles.
A number of radio stations are using my software Andromeda to maintain their archives. Some use it to browse their collections of MP3's and build playlists, others use it to archive previous broadcasts. Some sites are public, others strictly internal.
In fact, Clear Channel used Andromeda to share their 9/11 archives with other stations.
Basically, Andromeda builds streaming web sites from collections of MP3's, OGG's, etc. You'll need a web server that can do PHP or ASP.
"the GPL does disallow removal of copyright notices"
Removal of copyright notices from the source code, certainly, but as I understand it, no so from the interface of a running application.
And it doesn't need to be replaced by a copyright notice - it could just as easily be replaced by a new product name claiming a new authorship. Consider, for instance, a simple fork -- the forked code would have to credit contributing authors, but (as far as I understand) it wouldn't need to give them any prominent credit that end users would necessarily be exposed to...
Slashdot Mirror
I'm not quite sure if you're calling for a new interface or not. In any case, the remote clicker is certainly a well established interface (which is indeed a good thing), but that doesn't make it ideal (consider the rotary phone). The clicker was also developed for a different task - not for browsing through a large archive of files.
"I do not know of a product that allows universal-remote control of a Linux PC."
WRT the sort of remote control I'm talking about, VNC should do the trick.
I have a setup similar to the original poster's. My soultion was simply to use my wi-fi laptop to remote control the desktop of the server. That approach could prove quite handy & save him a lot of money...
IHMO, the ability to remotely contol the desktop of another box, whose sound out is patched into a stereo can be very handy. Simply think of the remote desktop client as a universal remote contolling the server.
And with respect to my software -- because it was designed to scale to any sized screen, you should even be able to squeeze it into a remote desktop client on something like a wi-fi enabled pocket PC.
In any case, I just think the idea of using remote desktop software (such as VNC, and Win XP's Remote Desktop) should at least worth keeping in the bag-of-tricks.
-Scott
And the clients don't need ay special software (apart from a browser and a player).
Finally, I use remote desktop software to 'hit play' on the server itself (which is wired to the stereo).
So, with one central server, I can play MP3's over my LAN, out over the net, and remotely to my stereo.
I'd like to see you do that with a toilet ;)
-Scott
One other tip I'd like to toss into the soup: remote desktop software (VNC, XP's Remote Desktop, pcAnywhere, etc...) can be quite handy for remotely controlling audio on a server. For instance, I keep a spare PC running Andromeda in the corner, wired to my stereo, and I remotely control it with my laptop over wi-fi. One neat thing about that approach is that it'll work with any audio source (such as other web sites, Rhapsody, internet radio, etc).
-Scott
I suppose that's my point. I've never had that, or any other problems with PayPal. I'm only speaking from my personal experience.
And personally, I'd prefer for them to err on the side of caution.
I've never had any problems with PayPal whatsoever, nor has anybody ever complained to me.
Frankly, I find PayPal quite handy. Not only can I charge a fixed amount for my software, I can also easly send customized amounts for special situations.
And compared to every other service I've looked at, the rates they charge are next to nothing(their 3% vs. as much as 20%).
Personally, my experience with PayPal has always been very good. I use it to sell my software. Whenever I've called their free support number, I get a human within a few minutes -- and a human that can answer my questions.
I absolutely agree. The people who go down will say that the new algorithm is worse, and the people who go up will say it's an improvement.
In my case, I've been steadily going up for a while, and so the fact that I went up doesn't seem obviously related to a change in algorithm.
For a while I've held the #1 spot for 'Andromeda' and I just went to #5 from #7 for 'MP3 server'.
Personally, I can't tell the difference in searches for other sites.
From what I understand, the change is supposed to help new sites, which seems like a good thing (unless it's easy to exploit).
Well speaking for the only site whose PageRank I regularly keep track of (my site) the new algorithm hasn't changed all that much. I, for one, am now coming up a little higher.
Yes, we graduated in '86, but we got our computers in '81 (we were 12,13). I think it's accurate to label that the first generation of kids to grow up with their own computers.
Atari, Apple, TRS-80, Commodore, etc.
However, I do think there's a difference between mass anonymous downloading of copyrighted materials, and letting a friend play one of your CD's.
That's what my software does - it turns an MP3 collection into a streaming site. Most people use it to remotely access thier collection, and they may (or may not) choose to let a friend listen to something.
Now, I think that's quite a lot different than being able to download just about anything you can think of from people you don't know.
And the reason it's relevant is that the P2P networks provide a target, and that will eventually prove to be thier downfall. The Content Providers have something to shoot at, and eventually, the Bandwidth Providers will be helping them. If people want to be able to continue to access *thier* stuff over the network, they might want to have a few different options.
They are both big big business, and they are simply jockying for the best sweetheart deal. No doubt the Content Providers will, before long, be paying some sort of 'tax' to the Bandwith Providers to help break the P2P networks.
If you're at all technical, you should think about running your own Internet standards based server (ie. http, ftp, etc). If you want to make your files available via a streaming site, I hope you take a look at my approach, Andromeda.
But no matter what you eventually decide to do, to have control you have to take control.
fwiw, I'm the 'Scott' with the Atari 800 mostly on the 4th & 5th pages of the excerpt.
I'd just like to mention that sometimes people make the mistake of seeing a 'hunger for money' where there is no more than a hunger to pay bills.
Personally, I love my software, and my goal is not only to keep improving it, but also to make enough money to cover my very ascetic lifestyle, maybe have a kid someday.
I tried the tip jar for well over a year, and I'm telling you: it doesn't work. I had no choice, but to charge instead. Frankly, it's a bummer when people respond "you capitalist pig, you charge for software!" but hey, geez, it's just me, I work 70 hour weeks, and I require food.
I'd would think that the slashdot crowd would support the idea of independent programmers being able to pay their bills by making software that people love, in just the same way that they support the idea of independent musicians being able to pay their bills by making music that people love.
It's not so different, is it?
Well if my experience is any indication, I definitely think we should give up on the tip jar. In my opinion, it leads to the impression among users that it's working, and that impression helps to excuse them from giving.
And as for 'the only thing missing from paying for music online' - it's not the lack of physical goods, it's that payment is optional.
Yes, it would be nice if people voultarily gave, but it's not going to happen (indeed some do, but I'd say that it's no more than a fraction of 1%).
As I see it, for there to be a real change in the power structure, there also needs to be a real change in cashflow. And in my opinion, the continued belief in the tip jar actually does us a disservice.
Bandwidth: the asymmetric nature of most home-based high-bandwith networking options is intended to make it easier for us to be consumers rather than producers of digital content. This is especially bad because it quite litereally makes it harder for indepenedent voices to be heard.
However, many of the high bandwidth providers, AOLTW for one, are also content providers, and are perfectly happy to keep the bandwidth deck stacked against independents.
Tip jars: Don't work. In the context of discussing P2P networks, the concept of tipping the artists often comes up. People don't part with their cash voluntarily. That goes for software, and it goes for music. Sure some people do, some times, but the practical percentage is so small as to be negligable.
Fairtunes is/was the leading centralized tip jar, founded by Slashdot regular Matt Goyer, now sold to Musiclink. It got lots of great press and feedback. Go there and search for tips to your favorite artist.
Personally, I think of myself (an independent programmer) as not entirely different from a independent musician. I tried for years to rely on a tip jar, but despite having tens of thousands of daily users it never paid for more than coffee.
Potential: In any case, the new infrstructures bring huge potential for positive change, but in my opinion that infrstructure also needs to do much better job of getting money to change hands, in order to garner real power, and tip jars won't cut it.
-Scott
It's true that I'm trying to sell my work, but please don't think that makes me evil! I don't think I'm all that much different from the independent musicians who you hopefully support. It all part of my diabolical plans to pay my rent.
On an entirely different note, I'm on the BBC today. Neat!
-Scott
You;ll get a snazzy, streaming web site, dynamic generated from your collection. Keep it to yourself, or let your friends in. It's your choice.
Well, as far as I'm concerned, I can't build XML support into my project until it's a standard feature of PHP. I don't want to bother my users with having to install assorted packages. All they should need is the standard PHP install.
-Scott
Does anybody know when/what XML support will be integrated into the default PHP package?
Well, you'll be happy to know that you can indeed download files - just right-click a file name in the left-hand column, and choose 'save as'. fwiw, site operators can also configure Andromeda to disable the download links.
As for Google, since Andromeda generates web pages, Google can index that. Again, if you don't want to be indexed, you can run Andromeda behind a password, and/or set up a robots.txt file.
I'm just curious if you would consider my software Andromeda more friendly for your network. It's not like the main P2P networks insofar as you can't really use it as a mass anonymous downloader.
However, you can use it to stream your collection over a local network and/or over the Internet. Basically, it bulds a complete streaming web site from a collection of MP3 files. PHP and ASP versions are available.
There's no spyware, it doesn't need to talk 'outside' of your network, and it transfers over http so there typically aren't firewall hassles.
Best, -Scott
In fact, Clear Channel used Andromeda to share their 9/11 archives with other stations.
Basically, Andromeda builds streaming web sites from collections of MP3's, OGG's, etc. You'll need a web server that can do PHP or ASP.
Removal of copyright notices from the source code, certainly, but as I understand it, no so from the interface of a running application.
And it doesn't need to be replaced by a copyright notice - it could just as easily be replaced by a new product name claiming a new authorship. Consider, for instance, a simple fork -- the forked code would have to credit contributing authors, but (as far as I understand) it wouldn't need to give them any prominent credit that end users would necessarily be exposed to...