This is interesting, but I have to ask, why is Google doing this? What is in it for them?
It's nice that they are doing it, but as a business, they can't be sinking money into it (and risking being sued or damaging their reputation) without the expectation of a reasonable return.
So, how are they making money on this? Perhaps while you are driven around you have more time to make use of Google ad-supported services?
I know we are all saying "Duh!" here, but take a moment to ask "Why are they doing this?"
Sure they think they may be able to see trends and predict civil unrest, but what then? Why do they need that capability? To what use will this be put? Is it wrong for civilians to be restless? What if the majority want to revolt against the government - wouldn't it be wrong to try to stop them? What is the ultimate purpose of these govenment agencies, to support the current government whatever they do? To keep the country stable? To maximise the happiness of the citizens? And if the reason for this work is to increase the happiness of the citizens and reduce the chance of unrest, why doesn't the govenment just listen to the people in the first place?
For my cable management at home (headphones etc) I make my own cable ties from rubber-coated garden wire. You can cut it it the lengths you require, it is kind to the cable yet still twists up securely.
There is now a thinner diameter variation available which is even better for smaller jobs.
What does a superior product need with a law suit?
I'll have a go at answering that.
Perhaps (1) They think they can make even more money if they reduce competition. And (2) Perhaps if they don't enforce the patents now there is a risk they will be deemed unenforceable later.
Next thing you know, the studios will have enforcement troops.
Why would they go to that much trouble and expense? They will simply have minor acts of copyright infringement made into criminal acts and have the police and government agencies do the dirty work for them.
That kind-of happened to me. My car has an auto-dimming rear view mirror, which is implemented by a light sensor and LCD overlay on the mirror. After a particularly hot day I noticed there was some greasy liquid on the console. Turned out the liquid had leaked out. Now it is half full and doesn't work any more.
Sadly, it won't work out that way. Instead, the companies will all cross-licence to reach a stalemate, but with their combined patent portfolios, they will be able to prevent any new competitors arising.
And yet, since many people would be downloading this same file, surely the ISP will be cacheing it, so these updates should cost the ISP very little compared to random web browsing.
unless the U.S. government wants these thugs to stay in power
I note with interest how the USA has reacted differently to the "citizen uprisings" in different countries, with different levels of support for "democracy".
Not saying the guy was innocent, just that extradition over non-profit copyright infringement seems ridiculous. Especially when he was doing time in Australia already. "the Australian courts and executive government have agreed to treat Griffiths' activities as having taken place in US jurisdiction" And yet I can't buy all sorts of shit direct from the USA (Amazon MP3 - I'm looking at you!). And "This video not available in your region for copyright reasons". So apparently when online I'm not be treated as if I am in the USA. But he was. Can't have it both ways!
Slashdot Mirror
I hope the project is open source, because then...
FREE AS IN BEER!!!
God bless the USA.
I never quite understood this. Are you saying "God *favour* the USA over other nations? Why should God do that?
Final point: If you're taking it seriously, $99 will be far less than you pay for a designer for an icon and other app and website graphic assets.
That's what I was going to say. If $99 is a major portion of your development budget, your app is crap and the rest of us can live without it, thanks.
No, New Zealand does not (natively) have kangaroos, only Australia does.
Why bother with optimization?
This is interesting, but I have to ask, why is Google doing this? What is in it for them?
It's nice that they are doing it, but as a business, they can't be sinking money into it (and risking being sued or damaging their reputation) without the expectation of a reasonable return.
So, how are they making money on this? Perhaps while you are driven around you have more time to make use of Google ad-supported services?
I know we are all saying "Duh!" here, but take a moment to ask "Why are they doing this?"
Sure they think they may be able to see trends and predict civil unrest, but what then? Why do they need that capability? To what use will this be put?
Is it wrong for civilians to be restless? What if the majority want to revolt against the government - wouldn't it be wrong to try to stop them? What is the ultimate purpose of these govenment agencies, to support the current government whatever they do? To keep the country stable? To maximise the happiness of the citizens?
And if the reason for this work is to increase the happiness of the citizens and reduce the chance of unrest, why doesn't the govenment just listen to the people in the first place?
For my cable management at home (headphones etc) I make my own cable ties from rubber-coated garden wire. You can cut it it the lengths you require, it is kind to the cable yet still twists up securely.
There is now a thinner diameter variation available which is even better for smaller jobs.
What does a superior product need with a law suit?
I'll have a go at answering that.
Perhaps (1) They think they can make even more money if they reduce competition.
And (2) Perhaps if they don't enforce the patents now there is a risk they will be deemed unenforceable later.
Next thing you know, the studios will have enforcement troops.
Why would they go to that much trouble and expense? They will simply have minor acts of copyright infringement made into criminal acts and have the police and government agencies do the dirty work for them.
That kind-of happened to me. My car has an auto-dimming rear view mirror, which is implemented by a light sensor and LCD overlay on the mirror. After a particularly hot day I noticed there was some greasy liquid on the console. Turned out the liquid had leaked out. Now it is half full and doesn't work any more.
an eventual reform of patent law
Sadly, it won't work out that way.
Instead, the companies will all cross-licence to reach a stalemate, but with their combined patent portfolios, they will be able to prevent any new competitors arising.
Plenty. Don't be a jerk.
And yet not, as the terms of service will be revised and you will agree to them in order to have internet service at all.
You could have a show on flowers and smell them
But you wouldn't be smelling the flowers, you would be smelling an approximation of their odour, which is a bit sad really.
I don't think that it's hard at all to use up a few hundred GB per month, in a household with Mom, Dad and 2.4 teenage children all using the net.
And yet, since many people would be downloading this same file, surely the ISP will be cacheing it, so these updates should cost the ISP very little compared to random web browsing.
unless the U.S. government wants these thugs to stay in power
I note with interest how the USA has reacted differently to the "citizen uprisings" in different countries, with different levels of support for "democracy".
I have no mod points, but thanks for your very interesting thoughts.
Prior art.
And I guess that's why this guy is pursuing the police & the state for damages. As a punitive measure so they will stop hassling people.
no other corporation on the planet is legally allowed to kill thousands of people every day by doing nothing more than using their product as intended
Car makers?
It also seems to be strange that they would be saying "Stop watching TV and use the internet".
I thought it was "password".
our own US government which has done similar and even worse things
case in point
Not saying the guy was innocent, just that extradition over non-profit copyright infringement seems ridiculous. Especially when he was doing time in Australia already.
"the Australian courts and executive government have agreed to treat Griffiths' activities as having taken place in US jurisdiction"
And yet I can't buy all sorts of shit direct from the USA (Amazon MP3 - I'm looking at you!).
And "This video not available in your region for copyright reasons".
So apparently when online I'm not be treated as if I am in the USA. But he was.
Can't have it both ways!