You're right but you miss the real point. Companies like IBM, and especially Microsoft file patents already knowing they are without merit and that prior art exists.
The root cause of the problem is with the US legal system, being so slow and expensive to come to a final decision on anything at all.
For a small company suspected of being in breach of a patent, even a frivolous one, companies like IBM can generate so much bogus legal activity to totally bankrupt smaller competitors with ongoing legal costs alone, regardless of the merit of the actual patent or case.
Ultimately they use a meritless patent claim and the fact that the legal system is so inefficient to force a decision on smaller competitiors to either face bankrupcy or agree to an ongoing licence agreement (so IBM or whoever can leech a year-on-year cut of the actual innovators profits for providing absolutely nothing of value in return).
Basically the current system enables, rewards and even mandates that big companies conduct legalized extortion on smaller ones. Its exactly the equivalent of a mafia protection racket except its technically legal and even promoted by the system.
The real point is that the current system is killing all innovation, entrepreneurialism and any chance for small startups to succeed in the US. That directly translates into the sick eonomy we are all now experiencing.
What is this new trend where GUI's are now using all the screenspace for whitespace or non-informative visual fluff, while making the amount of space for the actual useful info tiny and/or crammed into a corner?
I mean look at the screenshots in the article. Thjey have a whole HD widescreen and the movie list page has space for 6 icons? I have more than 1000 movie files, with that GUI finding a movie by browsing will get old REAL FAST.
And look at the page for the Cars2 movie. They cant even get a short description text to fully fit because of the stupidly large screenshot graphic that communicates practically nothing but is allocated nearly the whole screen.
Ubuntu especially seem to have no clue at GUI design.
Usability, ease of use, and communication of useful info all take a back seat in favor of useless eye-candy (Unity is just awful for all practical uses) compared to a conventional desktop. Worryingly, This seems to be becoming a general trend with not just Ubuntu doing it (Gnome 3 is another example of a giant step backwards).
Apparently UbuntuTV isn't intended to be a PC platform. They're targetting embedded devices (think TV and roku-type boxes) so app choice won't be an option.
One of the main reasons I don't like Unity is that it wastes so much screenspace and makes the icons so big that you only get to see a few on the screen at a time.
I noticed the paradigm continues with unbuntuTV.
I have over 1000 videos. Using the whole screen to show 6 movie icons at a time won't even slightly work for me.
I prefer to take the approach of learning how to be a proper driver that can keep control and make the car handle well in all situations. That way I dont need electronic gadgetry to make up for my shortcomings. In fact it just gets in the way.
Given all the electronic junk such as ABS, TCS, TPS, multiple airbags, electric seats, motorized windows, mirrors, rear-seat DVD players etc etc that they shovel into cars as standard these days, All the efficiency gained is probably mostly lost in extra weight and power consumption to drive that stuff.
I for one would welcome the opportunity to buy a simple car without all that junk, except there isn't really the option any more. Apart from the fuel savings, think of the production cost savings the car companies could pass on to the consumer.
So Iran is going to be the next state where the people finally have had enough and overthrow the overbearing dictatorship. You'd think these dictators would get a clue from recent history and simply ease up a little instead of getting deposed by a popular revolution (and usually executed) but they never seem to get it. Have the freedom protests started in Iran yet?
I'd agree with you if I could see any down side to having a queen.
She's essentially politically powerless although she does stay informed and occasionally straightens out prime ministers with common sense.
She generates way more money from foreign tourists than she costs the country.The royal family are also significant patrons of many charities.
You're right, the US has got rid of anything like that. That's probably one reason why you have so many more morally bankrupt politicians and such a shallow culture I suppose.
I have both Tron:Legacy and Avatar on Blu-ray. After Flynn Jr. is inside the computer (i.e.for most of the movie) its in 3D and looks great.
IMHO the 3D effect in Avatar is absolutely not a great demonstrator for 3D. In fact the 3D effect is so subtle its hardly noticeable that the movie is even in 3D at all.
>> it's absurd to endow a baby with royal status because of the vagina it came out of.
That, in a more shallow form, is exactly what happens in the US. Instead of bloodlines, in the US Its all about the bank account or size of fake boobs attached the vagina the baby came out of.
Even now years after 3D tvs came out, there's literally only about 10 blu-ray titles that are actual movie blockbusters that people might want to watch more than once. The bulk are just obscure documentaries, tepid TV or kids animation. Glee 3D or Kung-Fu Panda anyone?
Furthermore, you pay a significant price premium for a 3D version of a movie that is available alot cheaper in 2D. I cant see how that can be justified.
Broadcast 3D TV at least in my area doesn't even exist.
I don't agree with the way Iran's government thinks, but it seems clear that the US government, especially the Republicans, are spoiling for another pointless and costly war, so are pressurising Iran with punitive sanctions in order to make them take the first punch so that the US can justify it.
Even if Iran is developing a nuke, it isn't the job or right of the US to be world police. Why is it that the west can make nukes but not other countries?
Its sad to see the EU isn't using some independent judgement instead of just falling into line with US policy and acting like the US's bitch.
Not that I like windows vista or 7, but why would your software need updating to run under them?? I haven't found a single problem running any of the older windows apps I have under windows 7. What are the problems you are encountering?
XP is now a relatively lightweight OS, so runs fast even on old hardware. Its also ideal for VMs.
Apart from all the ridiculous bloat of Windows 7, I don't like the way it works. The user interaction has been dumbed down a lot from XP, (not that XP was ever that smart or user-friendly, but it assumes the user is somewhat less of a moron than Windows 7 does).
I'll even agree with you calling me a douchebag if you can successfully justify what the point is of having like 20 disabled spaces in front of most supermarkets when only 1 or 2 are literally ever used? I fully agree with catering to an overhead for the off chance of double or even triple normal usage but this degree of PC extremity is ridiculous. Even worse are the sanctimonious "hybrids only" spots now out front of Fresh n' Easy closest to the doors. Even disabled cant park in them if they're not also in a hybrid. The PeeCee crap that you're so obviously a proponent of has gotten way out of hand.
becoming your own employer? No client asks to see your qualifications. Set up a consultancy business and keep your day job until your own business takes off enough. Also you'll find out if you really can do good work or not, and whether you like it or not, before you burn your bridges.
Id be OK with this if: a) Morbidly obese couldn't qualify for disabled stickers just because of their own poor 'lifestyle choices'. Jeez if anyone needs some walking exercise its them. and b) We trim the number of legally required disabled places by half, as they're always all empty anyway
Wait... you seriously think we get a free choice to elect our officials? At best we get a choice between 2 or 3 identical people who the system has already made sure will all promote the status quo.
In my humble experience lots of people seem to text etc during trailers, but come the movie they just about always stop using their phones.
Very occasionally some teen may light their phone display up for a few seconds like once during the movie, I agree its better if they didn't but its hardly distracting.
Slashdot Mirror
You're right but you miss the real point.
Companies like IBM, and especially Microsoft file patents already knowing they are without merit and that prior art exists.
The root cause of the problem is with the US legal system, being so slow and expensive to come to a final decision on anything at all.
For a small company suspected of being in breach of a patent, even a frivolous one, companies like IBM can generate so much bogus legal activity to totally bankrupt smaller competitors with ongoing legal costs alone, regardless of the merit of the actual patent or case.
Ultimately they use a meritless patent claim and the fact that the legal system is so inefficient to force a decision on smaller competitiors to either face bankrupcy or agree to an ongoing licence agreement (so IBM or whoever can leech a year-on-year cut of the actual innovators profits for providing absolutely nothing of value in return).
Basically the current system enables, rewards and even mandates that big companies conduct legalized extortion on smaller ones. Its exactly the equivalent of a mafia protection racket except its technically legal and even promoted by the system.
The real point is that the current system is killing all innovation, entrepreneurialism and any chance for small startups to succeed in the US. That directly translates into the sick eonomy we are all now experiencing.
What is this new trend where GUI's are now using all the screenspace for whitespace or non-informative visual fluff, while making the amount of space for the actual useful info tiny and/or crammed into a corner?
I mean look at the screenshots in the article. Thjey have a whole HD widescreen and the movie list page has space for 6 icons? I have more than 1000 movie files, with that GUI finding a movie by browsing will get old REAL FAST.
And look at the page for the Cars2 movie. They cant even get a short description text to fully fit because of the stupidly large screenshot graphic that communicates practically nothing but is allocated nearly the whole screen.
Ubuntu especially seem to have no clue at GUI design.
Usability, ease of use, and communication of useful info all take a back seat in favor of useless eye-candy (Unity is just awful for all practical uses) compared to a conventional desktop. Worryingly, This seems to be becoming a general trend with not just Ubuntu doing it (Gnome 3 is another example of a giant step backwards).
Apparently UbuntuTV isn't intended to be a PC platform. They're targetting embedded devices (think TV and roku-type boxes) so app choice won't be an option.
One of the main reasons I don't like Unity is that it wastes so much screenspace and makes the icons so big that you only get to see a few on the screen at a time.
I noticed the paradigm continues with unbuntuTV.
I have over 1000 videos. Using the whole screen to show 6 movie icons at a time won't even slightly work for me.
Crysis 2's DRM had a 5 install limit. Even after that it was still like $60.
I for one refused to bend over and be EA's bitch.
I prefer to take the approach of learning how to be a proper driver that can keep control and make the car handle well in all situations. That way I dont need electronic gadgetry to make up for my shortcomings. In fact it just gets in the way.
Given all the electronic junk such as ABS, TCS, TPS, multiple airbags, electric seats, motorized windows, mirrors, rear-seat DVD players etc etc that they shovel into cars as standard these days, All the efficiency gained is probably mostly lost in extra weight and power consumption to drive that stuff.
I for one would welcome the opportunity to buy a simple car without all that junk, except there isn't really the option any more. Apart from the fuel savings, think of the production cost savings the car companies could pass on to the consumer.
So Iran is going to be the next state where the people finally have had enough and overthrow the overbearing dictatorship.
You'd think these dictators would get a clue from recent history and simply ease up a little instead of getting deposed by a popular revolution (and usually executed) but they never seem to get it.
Have the freedom protests started in Iran yet?
I'd agree with you if I could see any down side to having a queen.
She's essentially politically powerless although she does stay informed and occasionally straightens out prime ministers with common sense.
She generates way more money from foreign tourists than she costs the country.The royal family are also significant patrons of many charities.
You're right, the US has got rid of anything like that. That's probably one reason why you have so many more morally bankrupt politicians and such a shallow culture I suppose.
Good luck finding any decent content unless you're gaming.
I have both Tron:Legacy and Avatar on Blu-ray.
After Flynn Jr. is inside the computer (i.e.for most of the movie) its in 3D and looks great.
IMHO the 3D effect in Avatar is absolutely not a great demonstrator for 3D. In fact the 3D effect is so subtle its hardly noticeable that the movie is even in 3D at all.
>> it's absurd to endow a baby with royal status because of the vagina it came out of.
That, in a more shallow form, is exactly what happens in the US. Instead of bloodlines, in the US Its all about the bank account or size of fake boobs attached the vagina the baby came out of.
Even now years after 3D tvs came out, there's literally only about 10 blu-ray titles that are actual movie blockbusters that people might want to watch more than once. The bulk are just obscure documentaries, tepid TV or kids animation. Glee 3D or Kung-Fu Panda anyone?
Furthermore, you pay a significant price premium for a 3D version of a movie that is available alot cheaper in 2D. I cant see how that can be justified.
Broadcast 3D TV at least in my area doesn't even exist.
As usual, someone with a different POV and moderator points used them incorrectly.
Anyway, here's some justification of my post, and also an indicator of who is actually who's bitch:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mj-rosenberg/us-iran-israel_b_1074058.html
I don't agree with the way Iran's government thinks, but it seems clear that the US government, especially the Republicans, are spoiling for another pointless and costly war, so are pressurising Iran with punitive sanctions in order to make them take the first punch so that the US can justify it.
Even if Iran is developing a nuke, it isn't the job or right of the US to be world police. Why is it that the west can make nukes but not other countries?
Its sad to see the EU isn't using some independent judgement instead of just falling into line with US policy and acting like the US's bitch.
Seriously, there are still people out there that don't know that in-place upgrades never work properly?
Fallout 3 works faultlessly for me under Win 7. I haven't tried any of the older ones.
Not that I like windows vista or 7, but why would your software need updating to run under them??
I haven't found a single problem running any of the older windows apps I have under windows 7.
What are the problems you are encountering?
XP is now a relatively lightweight OS, so runs fast even on old hardware. Its also ideal for VMs.
Apart from all the ridiculous bloat of Windows 7, I don't like the way it works. The user interaction has been dumbed down a lot from XP, (not that XP was ever that smart or user-friendly, but it assumes the user is somewhat less of a moron than Windows 7 does).
I'll even agree with you calling me a douchebag if you can successfully justify what the point is of having like 20 disabled spaces in front of most supermarkets when only 1 or 2 are literally ever used?
I fully agree with catering to an overhead for the off chance of double or even triple normal usage but this degree of PC extremity is ridiculous.
Even worse are the sanctimonious "hybrids only" spots now out front of Fresh n' Easy closest to the doors. Even disabled cant park in them if they're not also in a hybrid.
The PeeCee crap that you're so obviously a proponent of has gotten way out of hand.
becoming your own employer? No client asks to see your qualifications.
Set up a consultancy business and keep your day job until your own business takes off enough.
Also you'll find out if you really can do good work or not, and whether you like it or not, before you burn your bridges.
Id be OK with this if:
a) Morbidly obese couldn't qualify for disabled stickers just because of their own poor 'lifestyle choices'. Jeez if anyone needs some walking exercise its them.
and
b) We trim the number of legally required disabled places by half, as they're always all empty anyway
Wait... you seriously think we get a free choice to elect our officials?
At best we get a choice between 2 or 3 identical people who the system has already made sure will all promote the status quo.
In my humble experience lots of people seem to text etc during trailers, but come the movie they just about always stop using their phones.
Very occasionally some teen may light their phone display up for a few seconds like once during the movie, I agree its better if they didn't but its hardly distracting.
$25 a ticket? where the hell do you live?
Its like $7 - $12 here in AZ (Phoenix and Scottsdale).