The use of DRM follows basic economics. The value of your product is regulated by supply and demand. The latest single from famous artist may be in high demand but that demand is nullify by the unlimited supply cause by releasing it unencumbered. Obviously, record company want to be able to control that supply via DRM to maximize profit from the demand. This is nothing new because in the days of vinyl records they could readily control that supply. In the digital age, they can easily lose control of the supply via a ripping utility and a P2P network. In everyone's interest, they should have control of the supply in so much as to perserve the value of making music. However, that control should be balance against consumer rights. The fear is that they will wield that power without regard to consumer rights or feedback. Moreover, that fear is boosted the inclusion of Microsoft- a company infamous for using its monopoly without regard to the consumer- and its efforts to set the DRM standard. But, we as a consumer have to figure a way to assert our will in system. I think we can by just not buying the content unless the terms appeal to us. I will never by song with time limit on it or a movie that requires a special display. Maybe the content providers won't bat a eye at the lost of a single sale but, if enough people do it, then they will listen. In a way, we do vote with our wallets as evident by the success of iTunes and FairPlay DRM. Fairplay is still DRM but it does give the consumer enough flexibility to use the content within their needs. I think that might be the best balance to give content providers control of the supply and consumers the right to do whatever with the content purchased.
I am against DRM now that I have seen it implemented. The author is correct in his assertion in calling it crippleware but he should lambast Microsoft equally. Apple FairPlay works for now at least but Microsoft is a complete mess. On the Microsoft side, the openness of the system is the very problem with it. I find that either Microsoft or the developers don't implement it correctly and the content won't even play. Who do call to fix it? Apple sqeezes by this because it controls everything but that doesn't make me comfortable about the future. Particularly, that it will be used to lock me in. DRM should go! It was a really bad idea to tackle the problem of piracy.
Following that, he did not succeed with his NeXT project
How do you define success? Apple paid $400 million for Next. I am not sure how much was that compared to what was invested in the company. But, surely, Jobs made a profit from the sale. Moreover, the world may not be filled to the brim with Next cubes, but a lot of the software that was developed there now lives on in Mac OSX. It may not be successful compare to Windows 95 but it surely not a failure either
Apple without Jobs showmanship really wouldn't be the same. Apple is a company that profits by pushing envelope to develop products and then requiring high price for it. That business plan is inherently unstable yet Apple thrives with it. The only reason that works is because Jobs has a good technical background to define a direction for a product and the showmanship to get people excited about it. The iPhone announcement illustrates this beautifully. He took the spotlight off CES, had the attention of major news outlets, and generally had people excited with a product that might be fraught with too many limitations for its price. Steve Ballmer can't do that, but that is exactly Apple's bread and butter. I don't think Jobs has any formal college degrees, yet, he undeniably has the qualities needed to be a good "Apple" CEO. Apple with any other CEO would not be what is Apple today. We will one day have to accept that ineveitable change.
Imagine how much it galls many Americans that watch some dumb yuppie on television fritter away a couple of million dollars when that's more money than they will ever see in their lifetime.
I am not so galled that someone wasted a million dollars which is more than I might see in my lifetime. I am galled that I couldn't think of something to sell those idiots. That is probably why I won't see that much in my lifetime.
But, I am very interested in a $600 mobile computer that runs osx. Just from my perspective as scientist, we would love this device if only we could use to view data anywhere we happen to be (home, road, coffee shop, conference). But we can't do that if Apple won't allow third party developers. Jobs wants us to think of it as an ipod instead of a computer, but I see it the other way around. In this day, even a laptop is too clunky to lug around but the iphone would be just right. So, I wouldn't pay $600 for a cellphone or an iPod, but I would pay $600 for an computer.
Is this really that hard? Runs OSX, you say? What else runs OSX? Macbook, Macbook Pro, Mac Pro, MacMini. Why invite lawsuit when the other moniker is just as good?
I prefer rapid update cycles as it allows a company to respond to user feedback. We can talk about kernel and filesystem features till we are blue in the face but the layman end-user ultimately dictates the usefulness of a software. Apple can respond to user peeves well in a relatively short period of time. Even Ubuntu is superior in that way in that it could evolve to be better that Windows. OsX is consequently more evolved that Vista in that it is structured as much by user feedback and as by developers. I suspect that the Vista UI will have some growing pains that will persist to annoy many for some years.
Linux and FreeBSD are free, in that they cost $0.00. I pay for the other two and I expect them to fix their own bugs. I don't know what world you live in; but for 8-10 hrs out of a day, my employer expects to work on company projects not analysing 50 million lines of code and fixing someone else bugs.
Drunk detectors are all good and smart? But where is the Toyota Automated Roving Robot (TARR? I won't buy the Kia Automated Roving Robot. Let marketing sort it out). Leaving me drunk near some of the dives I am known to patron is not an appealing idea. I want the TARR to drive me home. With GPS Navigaitiion, proximitity sensors, Cell processors, come up with something. I don't want to be left in the middle of nowhere at the mercy some of the unsavory characters that reside near those dives. Just don't let a single Microsoft employee to program the system (CRASHING, you know where I am going with that).
That what I am thinking. If not use the drive outright to boot the OS, then notebook manufacturers should use it as a built-in backup device. Instead of relying on a backup CD, just use the flash drive and a special utililty to restore the system and crucial data.
The idea that there are genetic sequences incomapatible with life is quite plausible. Miscarriages, still-births, even embryo death, and even SIDS may have some underlying genetic cause. Maybe there is some mutated gene that when expressed either kills the embryo outright or more slowly over time. This might give us some insight into unexplainable pregnacies failures. If it is like looking for a needle in a haystack that is not there, then maybe they should look in a different haystack. Instead of comparing DNA in living organisms, maybe they should DNA of those that didn't get a chance to live.
I can see GL is milking his successful franchises for all their worth. Indiana Jones toys must not be selling like they use too. I don't expect George Lucas to come without another blockbuster franchise or even be motivated to even try. But, sometimes, I would like for Hollywood people to just retire or step aside. Not that Ford is capable of still acting, but he is too over the hill for an action movie. Just like Rocky lacing his gloves for one more bout, Indiana should not pack the whip, holster the pistol, and put on the hat for another adventure searching for lost treasure. He just start collecting social security and bust the Ark out storage for more study while his young protege fights someones during the quest for some relic.
I can help but feel that this whole thing is just sour grapes. I certainly don't feel that improving OSX is the sole motivation behind this. The blog reeks of immaturity and lacks any form of professionalism. The language is smug and juvenile? pwnage? (Wow, high school all over again). They go into great deatil on how execute the exploit but dedicate one sentence on how to avoid it. Then, where is the discrete vendor warning that traditional researchers give before going public? They are not doing it! Are they trying to provoke an attack? I don't see the service that they are doing for me as OSX user. In fact, I look upon this whole stunt with nothing but contempt. I see this as a snipe at mac users because it hasn't been attacked. I think this line says it all!
The pornagrapher should blame themselves as much as the pirates. First off, they peddle sleaze and do that rather sleazily. Who wouldn't feel squemish giving a porn site his credit card information. But, going beyond that, who is really wants to pay someone else to live out his sexual fantasy? Most of the porn I see on the net is just straight sex catering to some fetish. They get some tramp, had sex, and post it on the internet. No script!! But, it is just some idiot getting his jollies off and then asking you to pay for it. Then, there is absolutely no innovation in that industry. Porn is porn regardless of the site that produces it. Whatever they can produce for money, I can find for free on the internet either by p2p, bittorrent, or just free samples. In the end, they are selling sex so they should have no qualms about being fucked!!!
Apple did have some rough spots during the second coming of Jobs. I doubt Jobs would have a financial care if Apple tanked because he was still successful with Pixar. But, those other execs may have lost faith in Job's vision and decided to implement plan B. I suspect they developed an immunity to reality-distortion fields due to long term exposure early on. Thus, in those uncertain days during the recession, they decided to to milk those stock options with creative accounting. Though they probably rank up there with the Enron crew, any damage they may have done is neglible. During their tenure, Apple didn't even layoff a lot of people. With Apple doing so well and the replacement of the execs, I see this blowing over with moderate to heavy fines.
As for Jobs, whether he knew or not won't make a hugh amount of difference. Granted, if this had been any other company or he had been someone else, he would already be forced to resign. But, since Jobs is associated with Apple's recent success, I doubt any investor would ask for his head. I don't think they could find a replacement with his charisma, his vision, or his contacts. He is just too valuable.
Mac OS X is the best OS out there but you can't throw it on just any PC out there. So, between Ubuntu and Windows, my question will be "how much do you loathe Windows". Ubuntu is easy to install so long as the stock kernel has all the drivers for you hardware. If your needs stay within a limited paradigm, Ubuntu is a satisfactory OS. However, if you want to do something like interface with an iPod, play the latest game, install a new card, do DV editing, etc, be prepared to put in some time reading how-tos, googling, and trial-n-error. Though I am not saying any of that can't be done, a few hours your time can pay for a new copy of Windows. With Linux, free doesn't come without a price. Windows maybe bloated, obtusive, annoying, infested with malware, and crippled by DRM but you can have it working out of the box and be reasonably productive with it with minimal effort. So,IMHO, you really have to be fed up with Windows to switch to Ubuntu or any other distro . Of course, you can always read the sig and take its advice.
While I agree with that statement, I can't help but feel that idiot scale leans a little bit more to the Republican side of that aisle. Anyone who I consider to be intelligent, whether rich or poor-Christian or atheist, tend to more Democrat in their leanings. It is usually Republicans denying global warming, evolution, bad assessments on Iraq, etc. People that I meet that are fervent Republicans fall into two categories- those that are not well educated presenting either naivete or general stupidity and those that are avaricious. The former see the world through rose color glasses (forgive the cliche but it fits) and tend not to know any better and latter generally profit from Republican policies. The latter are pretty smart but use their intelligence to own selfish ends. So, either way I look at it, I generally have a low opinion of Republicans and that opinion seems to resonate on this website.
Even for the end user, what new features might interest them. Eye candy was so 2003. Right now, I am looking at eye candy provide by OSX. Yawn!! How can I find out whether any of these features will improve the general computing experience of those around me (who have not open up to OSX). I don't want to buy Vista to figure that out. Then, the end user has 3 version to choose at both ends of the price scale. Do they take basic or shell out for ultimate? Do you see the questions left open by his review?
I want to call this article redundant for a variety of reasons. First, it is somewhat superificial and hasn't move beyond what other superficial reviews have done in the past (This is the 50th time I heard the copy OSX routine). Second, does it matter how well Microsoft did its latest incarnation of Windows? If you buy a computer in the next year that is not from Apple computer, you will buy some version of Vista. It is not like you can choose something else to run your computer unless you do it aftermarket. Who short of a geek will bother?
I am American and all I can say, "I am damn embarrassed with government". The head moron probably probably didn't get better than a D in any of his science classes. God knows what the other assholes between him and government scientist got! I can't hold my head up in another country! With Iran and NK going nuclear, Osama taking a siesta in the Himalayas while doing video blogs, and Iraq giving new defintion to hate thy neighbor, why does this Administration insist on disputing people with Ph.D's. Do they understand that they are usually not right about a lot of things? It is best to shut up and listen to the experts! Blair is stepping down soon in UK, can we borrow him for the next 2 years?
Of the 1 billion songs Apple sold, Apple actually profitted 10-20 million from it over 3 years. Whether it is collapsing or up from the year before, what the fuck difference does it make to the bottom-line of a multi-billion dollar corporation? Quit posting this stupid ass shit. When iPod sales collapse, post it!!! Otherwise, try finding some good articles! Man, rant over and fire Zonk!!!
Yes!!! That is why Slashdot should fire Zonk immediately. Not soon...not tommorrow...now as soon they can sign the pink slip, NOW!!! I will continue to champion this message until the community sees the devastation his witless choices for articles have on our IQ's.
Slashdot Mirror
The use of DRM follows basic economics. The value of your product is regulated by supply and demand. The latest single from famous artist may be in high demand but that demand is nullify by the unlimited supply cause by releasing it unencumbered. Obviously, record company want to be able to control that supply via DRM to maximize profit from the demand. This is nothing new because in the days of vinyl records they could readily control that supply. In the digital age, they can easily lose control of the supply via a ripping utility and a P2P network. In everyone's interest, they should have control of the supply in so much as to perserve the value of making music. However, that control should be balance against consumer rights. The fear is that they will wield that power without regard to consumer rights or feedback. Moreover, that fear is boosted the inclusion of Microsoft- a company infamous for using its monopoly without regard to the consumer- and its efforts to set the DRM standard. But, we as a consumer have to figure a way to assert our will in system. I think we can by just not buying the content unless the terms appeal to us. I will never by song with time limit on it or a movie that requires a special display. Maybe the content providers won't bat a eye at the lost of a single sale but, if enough people do it, then they will listen. In a way, we do vote with our wallets as evident by the success of iTunes and FairPlay DRM. Fairplay is still DRM but it does give the consumer enough flexibility to use the content within their needs. I think that might be the best balance to give content providers control of the supply and consumers the right to do whatever with the content purchased.
I am against DRM now that I have seen it implemented. The author is correct in his assertion in calling it crippleware but he should lambast Microsoft equally. Apple FairPlay works for now at least but Microsoft is a complete mess. On the Microsoft side, the openness of the system is the very problem with it. I find that either Microsoft or the developers don't implement it correctly and the content won't even play. Who do call to fix it? Apple sqeezes by this because it controls everything but that doesn't make me comfortable about the future. Particularly, that it will be used to lock me in. DRM should go! It was a really bad idea to tackle the problem of piracy.
Following that, he did not succeed with his NeXT project
How do you define success? Apple paid $400 million for Next. I am not sure how much was that compared to what was invested in the company. But, surely, Jobs made a profit from the sale. Moreover, the world may not be filled to the brim with Next cubes, but a lot of the software that was developed there now lives on in Mac OSX. It may not be successful compare to Windows 95 but it surely not a failure either
Apple without Jobs showmanship really wouldn't be the same. Apple is a company that profits by pushing envelope to develop products and then requiring high price for it. That business plan is inherently unstable yet Apple thrives with it. The only reason that works is because Jobs has a good technical background to define a direction for a product and the showmanship to get people excited about it. The iPhone announcement illustrates this beautifully. He took the spotlight off CES, had the attention of major news outlets, and generally had people excited with a product that might be fraught with too many limitations for its price. Steve Ballmer can't do that, but that is exactly Apple's bread and butter. I don't think Jobs has any formal college degrees, yet, he undeniably has the qualities needed to be a good "Apple" CEO. Apple with any other CEO would not be what is Apple today. We will one day have to accept that ineveitable change.
Imagine how much it galls many Americans that watch some dumb yuppie on television fritter away a couple of million dollars when that's more money than they will ever see in their lifetime.
I am not so galled that someone wasted a million dollars which is more than I might see in my lifetime. I am galled that I couldn't think of something to sell those idiots. That is probably why I won't see that much in my lifetime.
But, I am very interested in a $600 mobile computer that runs osx. Just from my perspective as scientist, we would love this device if only we could use to view data anywhere we happen to be (home, road, coffee shop, conference). But we can't do that if Apple won't allow third party developers. Jobs wants us to think of it as an ipod instead of a computer, but I see it the other way around. In this day, even a laptop is too clunky to lug around but the iphone would be just right. So, I wouldn't pay $600 for a cellphone or an iPod, but I would pay $600 for an computer.
Is this really that hard? Runs OSX, you say? What else runs OSX? Macbook, Macbook Pro, Mac Pro, MacMini. Why invite lawsuit when the other moniker is just as good?
I prefer rapid update cycles as it allows a company to respond to user feedback. We can talk about kernel and filesystem features till we are blue in the face but the layman end-user ultimately dictates the usefulness of a software. Apple can respond to user peeves well in a relatively short period of time. Even Ubuntu is superior in that way in that it could evolve to be better that Windows. OsX is consequently more evolved that Vista in that it is structured as much by user feedback and as by developers. I suspect that the Vista UI will have some growing pains that will persist to annoy many for some years.
Linux and FreeBSD are free, in that they cost $0.00. I pay for the other two and I expect them to fix their own bugs. I don't know what world you live in; but for 8-10 hrs out of a day, my employer expects to work on company projects not analysing 50 million lines of code and fixing someone else bugs.
Drunk detectors are all good and smart? But where is the Toyota Automated Roving Robot (TARR? I won't buy the Kia Automated Roving Robot. Let marketing sort it out). Leaving me drunk near some of the dives I am known to patron is not an appealing idea. I want the TARR to drive me home. With GPS Navigaitiion, proximitity sensors, Cell processors, come up with something. I don't want to be left in the middle of nowhere at the mercy some of the unsavory characters that reside near those dives. Just don't let a single Microsoft employee to program the system (CRASHING, you know where I am going with that).
That what I am thinking. If not use the drive outright to boot the OS, then notebook manufacturers should use it as a built-in backup device. Instead of relying on a backup CD, just use the flash drive and a special utililty to restore the system and crucial data.
The idea that there are genetic sequences incomapatible with life is quite plausible. Miscarriages, still-births, even embryo death, and even SIDS may have some underlying genetic cause. Maybe there is some mutated gene that when expressed either kills the embryo outright or more slowly over time. This might give us some insight into unexplainable pregnacies failures. If it is like looking for a needle in a haystack that is not there, then maybe they should look in a different haystack. Instead of comparing DNA in living organisms, maybe they should DNA of those that didn't get a chance to live.
I wonder what it would be like if Albert Einstein did a second paper on the Photoelectric Effect in 1925
I wonder about the crowds response if Steve Jobs release the Apple II in shining aluminum chassis at next Macworld Expo
Maybe George Bush should have just reinvaded Japan rather than to start that whole Iraq thing.
It seems to work so well for Hollywood
I can see GL is milking his successful franchises for all their worth. Indiana Jones toys must not be selling like they use too. I don't expect George Lucas to come without another blockbuster franchise or even be motivated to even try. But, sometimes, I would like for Hollywood people to just retire or step aside. Not that Ford is capable of still acting, but he is too over the hill for an action movie. Just like Rocky lacing his gloves for one more bout, Indiana should not pack the whip, holster the pistol, and put on the hat for another adventure searching for lost treasure. He just start collecting social security and bust the Ark out storage for more study while his young protege fights someones during the quest for some relic.
I can help but feel that this whole thing is just sour grapes. I certainly don't feel that improving OSX is the sole motivation behind this. The blog reeks of immaturity and lacks any form of professionalism. The language is smug and juvenile? pwnage? (Wow, high school all over again). They go into great deatil on how execute the exploit but dedicate one sentence on how to avoid it. Then, where is the discrete vendor warning that traditional researchers give before going public? They are not doing it! Are they trying to provoke an attack? I don't see the service that they are doing for me as OSX user. In fact, I look upon this whole stunt with nothing but contempt. I see this as a snipe at mac users because it hasn't been attacked. I think this line says it all!
You're the PC now, Mac (YTPNM).
The pornagrapher should blame themselves as much as the pirates. First off, they peddle sleaze and do that rather sleazily. Who wouldn't feel squemish giving a porn site his credit card information. But, going beyond that, who is really wants to pay someone else to live out his sexual fantasy? Most of the porn I see on the net is just straight sex catering to some fetish. They get some tramp, had sex, and post it on the internet. No script!! But, it is just some idiot getting his jollies off and then asking you to pay for it. Then, there is absolutely no innovation in that industry. Porn is porn regardless of the site that produces it. Whatever they can produce for money, I can find for free on the internet either by p2p, bittorrent, or just free samples. In the end, they are selling sex so they should have no qualms about being fucked!!!
Apple did have some rough spots during the second coming of Jobs. I doubt Jobs would have a financial care if Apple tanked because he was still successful with Pixar. But, those other execs may have lost faith in Job's vision and decided to implement plan B. I suspect they developed an immunity to reality-distortion fields due to long term exposure early on. Thus, in those uncertain days during the recession, they decided to to milk those stock options with creative accounting. Though they probably rank up there with the Enron crew, any damage they may have done is neglible. During their tenure, Apple didn't even layoff a lot of people. With Apple doing so well and the replacement of the execs, I see this blowing over with moderate to heavy fines.
As for Jobs, whether he knew or not won't make a hugh amount of difference. Granted, if this had been any other company or he had been someone else, he would already be forced to resign. But, since Jobs is associated with Apple's recent success, I doubt any investor would ask for his head. I don't think they could find a replacement with his charisma, his vision, or his contacts. He is just too valuable.
Mac OS X is the best OS out there but you can't throw it on just any PC out there. So, between Ubuntu and Windows, my question will be "how much do you loathe Windows". Ubuntu is easy to install so long as the stock kernel has all the drivers for you hardware. If your needs stay within a limited paradigm, Ubuntu is a satisfactory OS. However, if you want to do something like interface with an iPod, play the latest game, install a new card, do DV editing, etc, be prepared to put in some time reading how-tos, googling, and trial-n-error. Though I am not saying any of that can't be done, a few hours your time can pay for a new copy of Windows. With Linux, free doesn't come without a price. Windows maybe bloated, obtusive, annoying, infested with malware, and crippled by DRM but you can have it working out of the box and be reasonably productive with it with minimal effort. So,IMHO, you really have to be fed up with Windows to switch to Ubuntu or any other distro . Of course, you can always read the sig and take its advice.
Let me put your comment in more concise terms. BUY A MAC!! That is all you have to say and leave the nerds their delusions.
There are idiots on both sides of the aisle.
While I agree with that statement, I can't help but feel that idiot scale leans a little bit more to the Republican side of that aisle. Anyone who I consider to be intelligent, whether rich or poor-Christian or atheist, tend to more Democrat in their leanings. It is usually Republicans denying global warming, evolution, bad assessments on Iraq, etc. People that I meet that are fervent Republicans fall into two categories- those that are not well educated presenting either naivete or general stupidity and those that are avaricious. The former see the world through rose color glasses (forgive the cliche but it fits) and tend not to know any better and latter generally profit from Republican policies. The latter are pretty smart but use their intelligence to own selfish ends. So, either way I look at it, I generally have a low opinion of Republicans and that opinion seems to resonate on this website.
Even for the end user, what new features might interest them. Eye candy was so 2003. Right now, I am looking at eye candy provide by OSX. Yawn!! How can I find out whether any of these features will improve the general computing experience of those around me (who have not open up to OSX). I don't want to buy Vista to figure that out. Then, the end user has 3 version to choose at both ends of the price scale. Do they take basic or shell out for ultimate? Do you see the questions left open by his review?
I want to call this article redundant for a variety of reasons. First, it is somewhat superificial and hasn't move beyond what other superficial reviews have done in the past (This is the 50th time I heard the copy OSX routine). Second, does it matter how well Microsoft did its latest incarnation of Windows? If you buy a computer in the next year that is not from Apple computer, you will buy some version of Vista. It is not like you can choose something else to run your computer unless you do it aftermarket. Who short of a geek will bother?
I am American and all I can say, "I am damn embarrassed with government". The head moron probably probably didn't get better than a D in any of his science classes. God knows what the other assholes between him and government scientist got! I can't hold my head up in another country! With Iran and NK going nuclear, Osama taking a siesta in the Himalayas while doing video blogs, and Iraq giving new defintion to hate thy neighbor, why does this Administration insist on disputing people with Ph.D's. Do they understand that they are usually not right about a lot of things? It is best to shut up and listen to the experts! Blair is stepping down soon in UK, can we borrow him for the next 2 years?
Of the 1 billion songs Apple sold, Apple actually profitted 10-20 million from it over 3 years. Whether it is collapsing or up from the year before, what the fuck difference does it make to the bottom-line of a multi-billion dollar corporation? Quit posting this stupid ass shit. When iPod sales collapse, post it!!! Otherwise, try finding some good articles! Man, rant over and fire Zonk!!!
Yes!!! That is why Slashdot should fire Zonk immediately. Not soon...not tommorrow...now as soon they can sign the pink slip, NOW!!! I will continue to champion this message until the community sees the devastation his witless choices for articles have on our IQ's.