But needing Internet access to run applications? A lot of the references I use when programming are on-line now and without an internet connection is a pain. I have a laptop - does this mean I need Internet access to use a program? What about when I'm in a remote village somewhere...
gmail works because you need an internet connection to send email. Internet weather programs obviously need the Internet. But do I need an Internet connection to program or to write a letter? If you need the Internet then this model doesn't work in all cases.
Even if you ignore the mobile thing: what about if you lose Internet from your company or house? Can you no longer compute?
Surely it depends? Thinking that one model fits all is stupid - both for 'customers' and developers.
Some people and business will pay subscriptions for mission critical software. Anti-virus on Windows is probably there for most people. Some applications will be updated semi-regularly, e.g. when the OS breaks it, new hardware comes out or a new feature is good. Some applications will be a buy once affair. Maybe things like a single player game.
Similarly developers/companies will offer different deals: Programs running on servers require subscription to keep working (e.g. MMORPG), some software (e.g. simple shareware) might be free upgrades for the life of the product, some product will work forevers but will require payment for major upgrades. Some software will be free (in terms of money) - and sets the baseline for what commercial (pay-for) software has to achieve to sell (e.g. FOSS). These are not the only models of course - but they are the ones that WORK.
Not fixing major bugs for free is stupid for the developers. Most do, of course.
A more important point is the number of developers STILL not offering try-before-you-buy.
>Thousands?.... Thousands of patents have been issued in the past few *weeks*.
Yes, I know. I assume, however, that you generally agree with the main argument.
I'm just not sure what we can do about it. Ranting on/. does little for the cause. Until politicians and the public becomes more computer literate (and I'm not taking about using Word) then I fear that it will be very much an up-hill struggle.
Regards
Rob Probin
What if PNG is challenged - will your viewpoint stand?
Over the last few years thousands of patents have been granted, the bulk of which probably shouldn't have - especially in software that has such a massive worldwide explosion in new "inventions" which the orignal authors have not patented - then 10 or 20 years later someone patents it.
The patent office (who make their money from granting patents) don't have the time or the inclination to do a full search - especially when most of the source is hidden from view - it's not just book publishing or visible inventions that need to be searched. But of course, that is an impossible task (and probably breaking a few license agreements plus the DCMA to boot).
So what will this do? Well, the file formats will be published by big corporations who have a large portfolio to challenge other companies. Other people will not be able to risk publishing their formats or their source code. So the world loses - and that includes corporations who are just too blind to see it yet.
Is this really the intention of IP laws? I don't think so.
Slashdot Mirror
Tess Rinearson's blog post (referenced by Philip Guo) at https://medium.com/tales-from-the-front/cc9ed433ec3c is as strong as Philip's - well worth reading.
An automated scanner? 71% sounds very high. How do we know here are not false positives? (Certainly the article wasn't critical)
Are there any privacy concerns with IPv6, since all packets are tracable to one network card?
Subscriptions are not a bad idea in all cases.
But needing Internet access to run applications? A lot of the references I use when programming are on-line now and without an internet connection is a pain. I have a laptop - does this mean I need Internet access to use a program? What about when I'm in a remote village somewhere...
gmail works because you need an internet connection to send email. Internet weather programs obviously need the Internet. But do I need an Internet connection to program or to write a letter? If you need the Internet then this model doesn't work in all cases.
Even if you ignore the mobile thing: what about if you lose Internet from your company or house? Can you no longer compute?
Surely it depends? Thinking that one model fits all is stupid - both for 'customers' and developers.
Some people and business will pay subscriptions for mission critical software. Anti-virus on Windows is probably there for most people. Some applications will be updated semi-regularly, e.g. when the OS breaks it, new hardware comes out or a new feature is good. Some applications will be a buy once affair. Maybe things like a single player game.
Similarly developers/companies will offer different deals: Programs running on servers require subscription to keep working (e.g. MMORPG), some software (e.g. simple shareware) might be free upgrades for the life of the product, some product will work forevers but will require payment for major upgrades. Some software will be free (in terms of money) - and sets the baseline for what commercial (pay-for) software has to achieve to sell (e.g. FOSS). These are not the only models of course - but they are the ones that WORK.
Not fixing major bugs for free is stupid for the developers. Most do, of course.
A more important point is the number of developers STILL not offering try-before-you-buy.
>Thousands? .... Thousands of patents have been issued in the past few *weeks*.
Yes, I know. I assume, however, that you generally agree with the main argument.
I'm just not sure what we can do about it. Ranting on /. does little for the cause. Until politicians and the public becomes more computer literate (and I'm not taking about using Word) then I fear that it will be very much an up-hill struggle.
Regards
Rob Probin
Are you sure about that?
What if PNG is challenged - will your viewpoint stand?
Over the last few years thousands of patents have been granted, the bulk of which probably shouldn't have - especially in software that has such a massive worldwide explosion in new "inventions" which the orignal authors have not patented - then 10 or 20 years later someone patents it.
The patent office (who make their money from granting patents) don't have the time or the inclination to do a full search - especially when most of the source is hidden from view - it's not just book publishing or visible inventions that need to be searched. But of course, that is an impossible task (and probably breaking a few license agreements plus the DCMA to boot).
So what will this do? Well, the file formats will be published by big corporations who have a large portfolio to challenge other companies. Other people will not be able to risk publishing their formats or their source code. So the world loses - and that includes corporations who are just too blind to see it yet.
Is this really the intention of IP laws? I don't think so.
Regards
Rob Probin