I didnt see a menu for proxy settings in the app. Might be helpful for those who are at work right now.
You can add the following lines into your config.js in the Songbird directory.
pref("network.proxy.http", "type proxy here in quotes"); pref("network.proxy.http_port", YOURPROXYPORT); pref("network.proxy.type", 1);
Of course, replace the port and proxy values, and you're in. Its based on firefox, so I just got the settings from the Firefox config and changed from user_pref() to pref().
It doesnt help that the cable techs themselves know nothing about technology and HD.
I recently had a HD DVR installed, and I requested that they just drop off the box so that I could do the "installation" (plugging in 4 cables) myself. Well, it turns out they need to call in to the company with some number on the box and make sure my "picture is optimal".
Of course it didnt help that neither of the 3 cable technicians I've ever had to my place know anything about HD at all.
Me: "I think we need to turn on the options for 720p and 1080i within the box"
Them: "uh, no, your picture looks great sir".
Me: "Yeah but try to go to an HD channel"
Them: "hmm, that channel isnt coming in, it must be a programming error, let me call my support
Me: "NO! you need to enable HD within YOUR cable box in the menu, please let me do it!
Them: "No I have it configured correctly and if you change it you will damage your TV"
Me: "Fine, make your call"
55 minutes later....
Them: "I fixed it! There were some options we had to configure in the cable box for HD! I FIXED IT!"
Me:.....
Them: "Oh and make sure you have your picture stretched all the time on Zoom mode for SD stuff"
Me: "That makes peoples faces look strange"
Them: "No it doesnt, its better for your TV also".
Oh the brilliance...
Proteus, I fully agree with your sentiment, but the last line is what I am questioning.
Computer problems have existed for a long time, pre-windows, pre-linux, pre-dos. Users just accept that as with any machinery, there are caveats to use, and that it will not always run as smooth as it did on day 1 out-of-the-box.
The problem is that users EXPECT problems with their computer, like they do with their cars, their houses, everything.
The alternative to the many problems of Windows, is either Mac (which they cant find software for as prevalent as PC's at retail stores...), or Linux, which has a steep learning curve that makes users not want to "put hours into learning the system just to check my email"
The alternatives are out there, but they have their caveats as well.
Users will stick with what is prevalent, popular, easy, fast, and simple. Windows defines all that for the basic user, and they just accept the problems along with the benefits.
Thats the whole thing about all of this. If they wanted the wireless project to be a success, dont make it a "finders keepers" service. 99% of people out there wouldn't go around looking for wireless signals everywhere they go. I carry around wireless stuff in my car, (PDA, Laptop, bluetooth phone) but never actively seek internet just for the fun of it.
The downtown area isnt exactly the most popular place here anyway, and probably the last place I would go to look for a free wifi connection. However, if they advertised it, I think alot of people would have taken advantage of it, and some of the sit-down restaurants downtown might have seen some business increase.
Bottom line, if you want people to use something, and take advantage of it (especially technology related things), advertise it, explain it, and show the non-technical people out there how to use it.
I live there too...25yrs old, Comp Engineering graduate, and never heard of this either.
There was absolutely no advertisement of it. I went downtown alot, and saw 1 sign in the last 6 months that said something about wireless, with no explanation what it was, or what the fee/cost was.
It seemed like it was someone's pet project, and no one ever advertised it to the masses. If someone here advertised it on TV or Radio, it would have been huge I imagine. Theres a number of cool eateries downtown that have outdoor seating...too bad I didnt know about it:(
Right on. I agree with you, in fact my first thought was..."where's the word (free)"
The public doesn't have the need or care to get into the pointless argument "free as in beer or speech", but the word 'FREE' means something.
A short line, such as "Free download, no cost, no adware, no sign-ups" would do wonders in my opinion.
Yeah, basically whoever designed that ad wasn't thinking of the general public, they seem to be advertising firefox to people who already know what it is.
When I interviewed with EA on a position for Software Engineer on Madden, I saw this first-hand. The people in my interview looked ghastly tired, and after the email tests, phone interviews, programming tests, etc, I was seeing the light, this is a sweat shop.
About halfway through my interview-lunch, I realized that this isn't the place for me. I half-assed my way through the programming test, knowing I didn't want to work here.
Above all, the HR people were unprofessional and borderline-rude.
The first question I was asked in the interview..do you mind working weekends? long hours?.."oh by the way, we even bring in food for you when you stay late!".
What an incentive...work 90hrs, they provide $5 pizza. Woohoo.
This isn't a big deal, the versions of Winamp over the last few years have sucked anyway. Most people I know stuck with older versions, and have no need for 5.xx
I've been using 2.91 since it was released, and never upgraded since then. 3 was a joke, and 5 is a bloated mess.
I wish they just left it an mp3 player, it was perfect as a plain mp3 player, instead of some media-player alternative.
Most newbies dont have the sense to go to google and find out how to rip mp3s. Even if they did, they wouldnt understand how to do it with a majority of the tools out there.
WMA is as easy as popping a CD into Windows, MediaPlayer comes up, and you hit "copy CD", bingo, youve got WMA.
Same with AAC for ITunes.
Among newbies who have no idea how to use a computer other than to collect adware and viruses in large droves, WMA and AAC are on the rise because they are IGNORANT.
IGNORANCE....thats it. MP3 is my preferred format, OGG is 2nd, because of quality.
It has nothing to do with DRM, or anything like that. Newbie users don't know how to do anything but drool on their keyboards....too bad they outnumber us 10-1
This seems to be a pervasive attitude here at slashdot: Where if you don't like something, you have the given right to change it to suit your preferences.
Real-life isn't open source, where you can just walk into a restaraunt, bar, or airport and branch the environment to YOUR choosing.
Maybe thats why so many of the nerds around here are single. If you really are bothered by things like TV, and music in public places, its as simple as not getting your butt out of your computer chair, and staying home.
The nice thing about computer engineering, though, is that I took a look at quite a few of those old assembly books as well:)
The Motorola 68HC11 book was a well-worn part of my arsenal also.
Ruby is like the glue that holds alot of my programs together.
The first edition of this book came in really handy in college, when I'd have to find creative ways to do something (especially text manip), where C++ or Java just seemed to get in the way.
Ruby is quick to learn, and Dave Thomas from Pragmatic is a great teacher...he came to my school for a little lecture/speech one day, and talked on the merits of Ruby, which is how I got introduced to it.
The network aspects of Ruby are great too. Small concise ruby programs can do a whole lot:)
Uhhh, what are you thinking.
If they wanted to make this article Anti-Linux, they would have added something like "80% of all linux-installed systems are converted to WindowsXP because people say "Windows XP is easier to use"'.
They dont say that.
They basically say that people are buying the cheap PC's with a Free OS, so they can save the money on the legal INCLUDED Windows that would come with a Dell/Gateway/Compaq, and install their PIRATED windows.
You have to consider the audience that is doing this. In 3rd worlds, for example, a majority of people who *might* know how to install a pirated copy of Windows, wouldn't necessarily understand how to build a from-scratch system, EVEN if they could obtain the parts.
They buy cheap systems because they dont have to pay for a FREE linux OS, they pirate the NON-FREE OS, and install it on there.
Like I said before....Cheap systems + Pirated OS = WIN, mostly for those in poorer countries.
Even here in the US, what do you think happens with the Wal-Mart linux machines that they sell dirt-cheap. They get turned into 'grandma's-email/XP machine' by some kid that installed a pirate copy of XP.
I dont see this message from Gartner as Anti-Linux. So many of you people have blinders on so that whenever you see MS and Linux in the same sentence you think "OMG Micro$oft Sux0r5!1!"
This is the same as buying one of those MP3 players with a huge CF card, and taking the CF card out to use in your camera.
People just buy cheap crappy PC's that come preloaded with Linux, they wipe the drive, and install XP.
Its purely economical from their point of view. Cheap PC + Pirated software = WIN.
Still, you are acting like you are 'entitled' to a free update or fix for a security problem.
Microsoft never "Guarantees" they will provide security updates. Its something they have to do to keep CUSTOMERS.
If certain CUSTOMERS pay for a service that advises them of FUTURE updates, thats fine!
If you have a problem with what they are doing, use Linux/whatever. If you are a Windows user, and dont like this, re-consider YOUR decision to use their product.
Also, they arent keeping UPDATES from customers who dont pay, but those who pay receive notification of PENDING updates so they can plan on a corporate scale for future changes.
Basically if you dont like it, there are alternatives out there.
I used a Sony Minidisc for about a year until I grew tired of the ultimately CRAPPY quality of the Sony Software. It literally took 6-7 minutes to import, convert, and transfer just 10 songs to the device, using a 2ghz, high-end system at the time. And that is when the program didnt crash all by itself.
And then, there is no 'one click transfer/convert'. You had to import all your mp3's into the 'library', which made another physical copy of the file, then it converts it, and saves the Atrac to your hard drive, yet again.
When will companies learn that we do not want DRM, or custom formats.
This looks worse than the original engine. I've played Q3 since it came out, and those screenshots are crappy compared to what the game really looks like...
So big deal, someone used tons of processors and some good coding to create graphics that look worse than the original, for a few thousand times the CPU and $$ cost!
Sometimes I wonder why people get excited over this stuff.
HL2, and Doom3 are "Xbox console only" games. In other words, they come out for PC, but only appear on console for the Xbox.
How many people out there have a computer that can adequately play HL2 and Doom3 right out of the box? I'd say 10%.
I have a P4 - 3.0C with 1Gb Ram, and an ATI 9600pro, and there are still games that I cant run smoothly with good quality.
Of course, you can spend $500 on a video card, plus another $300+ for a decent looking monitor, or $149 for an Xbox that will work with your TV.
And also, Halo2 isnt a port of a PC game, HaloPC is actually a port of the Xbox game.
The ability to bring HL2 and Doom3 over to the Xbox efficiently while still looking nice, just lends more credibility to what a good console Xbox really is, compared to the other choices.
Actually, right now is probably the most alive the Xbox has ever been. The price drop to $149 really helped them.
Look at upcoming xbox games and it tells you how the future of xbox is panning out:
Halflife2 - After PC release Doom3 - Fall/Winter 04 Halo2 - Christmas 04 ForzaRacing - Fall
In addition to a few other titles like DeadOrAlive:Ultimate, Conker, etc...
Seems like the xbox has a pretty bright future as far as the games that are coming out. There will be some best sellers there, and the list of games that come out this year will probably be some of the best games ever made for the platform.
Exactly what I was thinking.
"I think I'll quit playing little league baseball because someone on the other side of the world used a baseball to kill a bird in a tree. I'm so ashamed to be a baseball player. I can't show my face at the game again.:( "
Someone wants attention?:)
Betcha anything he's begging for his job back after the war.
Slashdot Mirror
No prob. The file you'll need to edit is "songbird-prefs.js". Who knows why they didnt include that in the gui...
I didnt see a menu for proxy settings in the app. Might be helpful for those who are at work right now.
You can add the following lines into your config.js in the Songbird directory.
pref("network.proxy.http", "type proxy here in quotes");
pref("network.proxy.http_port", YOURPROXYPORT);
pref("network.proxy.type", 1);
Of course, replace the port and proxy values, and you're in. Its based on firefox, so I just got the settings from the Firefox config and changed from user_pref() to pref().
It doesnt help that the cable techs themselves know nothing about technology and HD. I recently had a HD DVR installed, and I requested that they just drop off the box so that I could do the "installation" (plugging in 4 cables) myself. Well, it turns out they need to call in to the company with some number on the box and make sure my "picture is optimal". Of course it didnt help that neither of the 3 cable technicians I've ever had to my place know anything about HD at all. Me: "I think we need to turn on the options for 720p and 1080i within the box" Them: "uh, no, your picture looks great sir". Me: "Yeah but try to go to an HD channel" Them: "hmm, that channel isnt coming in, it must be a programming error, let me call my support Me: "NO! you need to enable HD within YOUR cable box in the menu, please let me do it! Them: "No I have it configured correctly and if you change it you will damage your TV" Me: "Fine, make your call" 55 minutes later.... Them: "I fixed it! There were some options we had to configure in the cable box for HD! I FIXED IT!" Me: .....
Them: "Oh and make sure you have your picture stretched all the time on Zoom mode for SD stuff"
Me: "That makes peoples faces look strange"
Them: "No it doesnt, its better for your TV also".
Oh the brilliance...
Proteus, I fully agree with your sentiment, but the last line is what I am questioning.
Computer problems have existed for a long time, pre-windows, pre-linux, pre-dos. Users just accept that as with any machinery, there are caveats to use, and that it will not always run as smooth as it did on day 1 out-of-the-box.
The problem is that users EXPECT problems with their computer, like they do with their cars, their houses, everything.
The alternative to the many problems of Windows, is either Mac (which they cant find software for as prevalent as PC's at retail stores...), or Linux, which has a steep learning curve that makes users not want to "put hours into learning the system just to check my email"
The alternatives are out there, but they have their caveats as well.
Users will stick with what is prevalent, popular, easy, fast, and simple. Windows defines all that for the basic user, and they just accept the problems along with the benefits.
Thats the whole thing about all of this. If they wanted the wireless project to be a success, dont make it a "finders keepers" service. 99% of people out there wouldn't go around looking for wireless signals everywhere they go. I carry around wireless stuff in my car, (PDA, Laptop, bluetooth phone) but never actively seek internet just for the fun of it.
The downtown area isnt exactly the most popular place here anyway, and probably the last place I would go to look for a free wifi connection. However, if they advertised it, I think alot of people would have taken advantage of it, and some of the sit-down restaurants downtown might have seen some business increase.
Bottom line, if you want people to use something, and take advantage of it (especially technology related things), advertise it, explain it, and show the non-technical people out there how to use it.
I live there too...25yrs old, Comp Engineering graduate, and never heard of this either.
:(
There was absolutely no advertisement of it. I went downtown alot, and saw 1 sign in the last 6 months that said something about wireless, with no explanation what it was, or what the fee/cost was.
It seemed like it was someone's pet project, and no one ever advertised it to the masses. If someone here advertised it on TV or Radio, it would have been huge I imagine. Theres a number of cool eateries downtown that have outdoor seating...too bad I didnt know about it
I can just see it now...
Mother - "Johnny! I'm going to use this new tool from 'the Man' to see if you've been doing anything illegal on here!"
Kid - "Oh no!"
Father - "Whoa you've been a busy little pirate haven't you?"
Kid "ARRRRR...."
Mother - "Go get the popcorn! I just found the new Johnny Depp movie!"
Father - "Wow! This is awesome, you can download these things for free? SWEEET!"
So you go out and pay for your music. And they tell you how you can, and can't use it.
You go and pirate music, and you can do whatever the heck with it you want.
No wonder people download free music. If I buy something, I want to put it on whatever device I want to.
So now this guy legally buys his music from iTunes, and is spending even more money to sue Apple.
Brilliant.
He should have just bought the CD and ripped the tracks himself, and then sold the album on ebay.
I never sent this message.
Right on. I agree with you, in fact my first thought was..."where's the word (free)"
The public doesn't have the need or care to get into the pointless argument "free as in beer or speech", but the word 'FREE' means something.
A short line, such as "Free download, no cost, no adware, no sign-ups" would do wonders in my opinion.
Yeah, basically whoever designed that ad wasn't thinking of the general public, they seem to be advertising firefox to people who already know what it is.
When I interviewed with EA on a position for Software Engineer on Madden, I saw this first-hand. The people in my interview looked ghastly tired, and after the email tests, phone interviews, programming tests, etc, I was seeing the light, this is a sweat shop. About halfway through my interview-lunch, I realized that this isn't the place for me. I half-assed my way through the programming test, knowing I didn't want to work here. Above all, the HR people were unprofessional and borderline-rude. The first question I was asked in the interview..do you mind working weekends? long hours?.."oh by the way, we even bring in food for you when you stay late!". What an incentive...work 90hrs, they provide $5 pizza. Woohoo.
This isn't a big deal, the versions of Winamp over the last few years have sucked anyway. Most people I know stuck with older versions, and have no need for 5.xx
I've been using 2.91 since it was released, and never upgraded since then. 3 was a joke, and 5 is a bloated mess.
I wish they just left it an mp3 player, it was perfect as a plain mp3 player, instead of some media-player alternative.
Most newbies dont have the sense to go to google and find out how to rip mp3s. Even if they did, they wouldnt understand how to do it with a majority of the tools out there. WMA is as easy as popping a CD into Windows, MediaPlayer comes up, and you hit "copy CD", bingo, youve got WMA. Same with AAC for ITunes. Among newbies who have no idea how to use a computer other than to collect adware and viruses in large droves, WMA and AAC are on the rise because they are IGNORANT. IGNORANCE....thats it. MP3 is my preferred format, OGG is 2nd, because of quality. It has nothing to do with DRM, or anything like that. Newbie users don't know how to do anything but drool on their keyboards....too bad they outnumber us 10-1
This seems to be a pervasive attitude here at slashdot: Where if you don't like something, you have the given right to change it to suit your preferences. Real-life isn't open source, where you can just walk into a restaraunt, bar, or airport and branch the environment to YOUR choosing. Maybe thats why so many of the nerds around here are single. If you really are bothered by things like TV, and music in public places, its as simple as not getting your butt out of your computer chair, and staying home.
The nice thing about computer engineering, though, is that I took a look at quite a few of those old assembly books as well :)
The Motorola 68HC11 book was a well-worn part of my arsenal also.
Ruby is like the glue that holds alot of my programs together.
:)
The first edition of this book came in really handy in college, when I'd have to find creative ways to do something (especially text manip), where C++ or Java just seemed to get in the way.
Ruby is quick to learn, and Dave Thomas from Pragmatic is a great teacher...he came to my school for a little lecture/speech one day, and talked on the merits of Ruby, which is how I got introduced to it.
The network aspects of Ruby are great too. Small concise ruby programs can do a whole lot
Uhhh, what are you thinking. If they wanted to make this article Anti-Linux, they would have added something like "80% of all linux-installed systems are converted to WindowsXP because people say "Windows XP is easier to use"'. They dont say that. They basically say that people are buying the cheap PC's with a Free OS, so they can save the money on the legal INCLUDED Windows that would come with a Dell/Gateway/Compaq, and install their PIRATED windows. You have to consider the audience that is doing this. In 3rd worlds, for example, a majority of people who *might* know how to install a pirated copy of Windows, wouldn't necessarily understand how to build a from-scratch system, EVEN if they could obtain the parts. They buy cheap systems because they dont have to pay for a FREE linux OS, they pirate the NON-FREE OS, and install it on there. Like I said before....Cheap systems + Pirated OS = WIN, mostly for those in poorer countries.
I've known this for a long time.
Even here in the US, what do you think happens with the Wal-Mart linux machines that they sell dirt-cheap. They get turned into 'grandma's-email/XP machine' by some kid that installed a pirate copy of XP.
I dont see this message from Gartner as Anti-Linux. So many of you people have blinders on so that whenever you see MS and Linux in the same sentence you think "OMG Micro$oft Sux0r5!1!"
This is the same as buying one of those MP3 players with a huge CF card, and taking the CF card out to use in your camera.
People just buy cheap crappy PC's that come preloaded with Linux, they wipe the drive, and install XP.
Its purely economical from their point of view. Cheap PC + Pirated software = WIN.
Still, you are acting like you are 'entitled' to a free update or fix for a security problem. Microsoft never "Guarantees" they will provide security updates. Its something they have to do to keep CUSTOMERS. If certain CUSTOMERS pay for a service that advises them of FUTURE updates, thats fine! If you have a problem with what they are doing, use Linux/whatever. If you are a Windows user, and dont like this, re-consider YOUR decision to use their product. Also, they arent keeping UPDATES from customers who dont pay, but those who pay receive notification of PENDING updates so they can plan on a corporate scale for future changes. Basically if you dont like it, there are alternatives out there.
Sometimes you people are so hyped up on anti-Microsoft jargon that you forget economy 101. You pay for a service, you get that service.
Same with Anti-Virus software. You pay to get the protection, if you dont, you dont have anti-virus..
Makes sense to me, that if you pay for something, you get it, if you dont, you dont.
Capitalism doesn't 'entitle' anyone to anything. You pay for what you want, thats how it works.
No one wants to use Atrac.
I used a Sony Minidisc for about a year until I grew tired of the ultimately CRAPPY quality of the Sony Software. It literally took 6-7 minutes to import, convert, and transfer just 10 songs to the device, using a 2ghz, high-end system at the time. And that is when the program didnt crash all by itself.
And then, there is no 'one click transfer/convert'. You had to import all your mp3's into the 'library', which made another physical copy of the file, then it converts it, and saves the Atrac to your hard drive, yet again.
When will companies learn that we do not want DRM, or custom formats.
This looks worse than the original engine. I've played Q3 since it came out, and those screenshots are crappy compared to what the game really looks like... So big deal, someone used tons of processors and some good coding to create graphics that look worse than the original, for a few thousand times the CPU and $$ cost! Sometimes I wonder why people get excited over this stuff.
HL2, and Doom3 are "Xbox console only" games. In other words, they come out for PC, but only appear on console for the Xbox.
How many people out there have a computer that can adequately play HL2 and Doom3 right out of the box? I'd say 10%.
I have a P4 - 3.0C with 1Gb Ram, and an ATI 9600pro, and there are still games that I cant run smoothly with good quality.
Of course, you can spend $500 on a video card, plus another $300+ for a decent looking monitor, or $149 for an Xbox that will work with your TV.
And also, Halo2 isnt a port of a PC game, HaloPC is actually a port of the Xbox game.
The ability to bring HL2 and Doom3 over to the Xbox efficiently while still looking nice, just lends more credibility to what a good console Xbox really is, compared to the other choices.
Actually, right now is probably the most alive the Xbox has ever been. The price drop to $149 really helped them.
Look at upcoming xbox games and it tells you how the future of xbox is panning out:
Halflife2 - After PC release
Doom3 - Fall/Winter 04
Halo2 - Christmas 04
ForzaRacing - Fall
In addition to a few other titles like DeadOrAlive:Ultimate, Conker, etc...
Seems like the xbox has a pretty bright future as far as the games that are coming out. There will be some best sellers there, and the list of games that come out this year will probably be some of the best games ever made for the platform.
Exactly what I was thinking. "I think I'll quit playing little league baseball because someone on the other side of the world used a baseball to kill a bird in a tree. I'm so ashamed to be a baseball player. I can't show my face at the game again. :( "
Someone wants attention? :)
Betcha anything he's begging for his job back after the war.