While these numbers are overhyped, it's certainly not nessesarily unrealistic. More and more sites are including drive by downloads, including the spyware that's pretending to be anti-spyware. We see this with many sites, such as ebaumsworld (which unfortunately steals all of its content) and has recently added the winfixer spyware to its list of trash. I would guess a large amount of people will infect themselves for a little entertainment.
Only on Slashdot will people complain about this move. While exploits are found, many are being worked on and have been patched by Microsoft. Secondly, they aren't the only OS or software with larger issues. Norton, for example, had a rar scanning issues where code could be executed while a scan takes place.
If Microsoft was trying to create a monopoly, they would be adding it for free to all of their computers, not selling it as an individual package like their competition.
I doubt the implementation will be all that well. The reason most people use P2P is for the free stuff, and sharing bandwidth is a nessesity for that. If they are paying to have it download, few people will want to have their internet slown down by uploading to another person, or sharing the file once they have paid and downloaded the file.
Quite over dramatic. Having it suggest other music based on what you are listening is hardly anything to be alarmed about. Many programs have similar features, including finding the information of a CD that you pop into your optical drive. Furthermore, iTunes is more than just a music player, you can also purchase music on it. Now if this were happening when the program was closed, or scanning other programs (Like Winamp) or difficult to uninstall (which iTunes isn't) then it would be another story.
Even assuming that this becomes massed produced in major boards, it will never take off the ground. First off, such a chip would be hard to keep track since many people will buy a computer second hand, or refurbished, or are given one. People who don't like the idea will boycott the boards that do have them, and those producers in a large part will stand out.
A huge issue would be if a large company like Dell adopted this. While this is highly unlikely, with the amount of clout they have with the general populace, it could sway more companies in adopting this technology.
I saw the episode and it wasn't that bad. They weren't nessesarily blaming the game, but they did keep some very strong sentiments towards the game, in both the visuals and the dialogue. To start, there were only a few partial shots of the box, which was suprisingly similar to the GTA boxes. CSI members had quotes along the lines of "I had this game but stopped after the first hour, it's horrible of society blah blah blah". What I find particularly amusing is the sort of weapons these teens had. Being from Canada, and living without guns I'm not aware of what people can get, but it seemed a little extreme. It was also funny that they touched on people who have died from playing too many video games...
If you want to consider many of those games sequals, like Perfect Dark Zero or a racing game, you could argue a similar argument for almost anything. A sequal to a racing game provides new vehicles and tracks with a similar feel, similar to some of the rpg lineups out there (Like Final Fantasy).
In addition, the games will have to be designed for the new hardware, so they will at least have to work on the engines, if not recreate them for the sequals.
While online gaming is a large factor for the xbox, and is a nice feature, there are still quite a few gamers out there who don't go online with their consoles. Even though Sony won't have a fortifide online structure, that still does not mean that some games will have it.
In addition to that, as an xbox owner I have never really seen any big titles for the Xbox. Sure there is Halo 3 for the 360 but At the rate Halo 2 was going, it won't be anything more than a good game. Many large titles that will be on the 360 like GTA or Burnout will be on the PS3 at the same time, if not before the 360.
A USB Nic can be pretty handy. If you ever have to get drivers and updates for a machine that doesn't have a nic, or doesn't have nic drivers it can save you some time. Also, have a phone line available to test a 56k modem. While they seem like a thing of the past, people still use them.
I went to a high school which had an integrated laptop program. Each student could either lease one, or have access to one when needed. The amount of garbage that went on was amazing. Part of the class became "how to use a computer", and the other half of the time was people playing games instead of taking notes. The same thing happens in the class rooms in post secondary institutions.
What isn't mentioned in The article is the options. While Microsoft Word may be slower than Open Office, much more important things like ease of use, extra functions (like macros) or file size of the files. In the end it's basically "I opened each one five times and saw Microsoft Office took longer to open and close."
If you show them how to prevent such issues, and they ignore it, suspend their network access. They will start thinking a little more when they realise they won't be allowed to use the network/internet if they don't protect their computer.
Perhapse it's just because it's April 1st, but that sounds totally bogus. As far as floppy drives go, The lack of them would have been an issue five years ago. Most PC desktops and labtops no longer come with a floppy drive.
Here in Canada, all members of BlockBuster recieved a brochure outlining the terms of this, and it really isn't all that surprising. Does anyone really expect a video store to allow you to keep a video for as long as you want?
Similar to Miridian, there is The Realm Online http://www.realmserver.com/ for $5.00 a month. Some feel that monthly fees are a horrible idea, but you get far more entertainment than renting a movie or going to a theater, which is almost the same price.
If you are looking for online gaming, there are a few smaller MMORPGs out there that have few controlls. There are several 2d ones out there that only require 4 directions, and left/right click.
Nexus: Kingdome of the winds http://www.nexustk.com/
I am not sure the ease of use on all of them, but the first one in the list is point and click with turn based combat.
I agree, however with rapant piracy, it's a valid reason not to accept returns. Most game companies allow you to send the box, game, and receipt to them for a refund.
Slashdot Mirror
While these numbers are overhyped, it's certainly not nessesarily unrealistic. More and more sites are including drive by downloads, including the spyware that's pretending to be anti-spyware. We see this with many sites, such as ebaumsworld (which unfortunately steals all of its content) and has recently added the winfixer spyware to its list of trash. I would guess a large amount of people will infect themselves for a little entertainment.
Only on Slashdot will people complain about this move. While exploits are found, many are being worked on and have been patched by Microsoft. Secondly, they aren't the only OS or software with larger issues. Norton, for example, had a rar scanning issues where code could be executed while a scan takes place.
If Microsoft was trying to create a monopoly, they would be adding it for free to all of their computers, not selling it as an individual package like their competition.
I doubt the implementation will be all that well. The reason most people use P2P is for the free stuff, and sharing bandwidth is a nessesity for that. If they are paying to have it download, few people will want to have their internet slown down by uploading to another person, or sharing the file once they have paid and downloaded the file.
Quite over dramatic. Having it suggest other music based on what you are listening is hardly anything to be alarmed about. Many programs have similar features, including finding the information of a CD that you pop into your optical drive. Furthermore, iTunes is more than just a music player, you can also purchase music on it. Now if this were happening when the program was closed, or scanning other programs (Like Winamp) or difficult to uninstall (which iTunes isn't) then it would be another story.
Even assuming that this becomes massed produced in major boards, it will never take off the ground. First off, such a chip would be hard to keep track since many people will buy a computer second hand, or refurbished, or are given one. People who don't like the idea will boycott the boards that do have them, and those producers in a large part will stand out.
A huge issue would be if a large company like Dell adopted this. While this is highly unlikely, with the amount of clout they have with the general populace, it could sway more companies in adopting this technology.
I saw the episode and it wasn't that bad. They weren't nessesarily blaming the game, but they did keep some very strong sentiments towards the game, in both the visuals and the dialogue. To start, there were only a few partial shots of the box, which was suprisingly similar to the GTA boxes. CSI members had quotes along the lines of "I had this game but stopped after the first hour, it's horrible of society blah blah blah". What I find particularly amusing is the sort of weapons these teens had. Being from Canada, and living without guns I'm not aware of what people can get, but it seemed a little extreme. It was also funny that they touched on people who have died from playing too many video games...
If you want to consider many of those games sequals, like Perfect Dark Zero or a racing game, you could argue a similar argument for almost anything. A sequal to a racing game provides new vehicles and tracks with a similar feel, similar to some of the rpg lineups out there (Like Final Fantasy). In addition, the games will have to be designed for the new hardware, so they will at least have to work on the engines, if not recreate them for the sequals.
While online gaming is a large factor for the xbox, and is a nice feature, there are still quite a few gamers out there who don't go online with their consoles. Even though Sony won't have a fortifide online structure, that still does not mean that some games will have it. In addition to that, as an xbox owner I have never really seen any big titles for the Xbox. Sure there is Halo 3 for the 360 but At the rate Halo 2 was going, it won't be anything more than a good game. Many large titles that will be on the 360 like GTA or Burnout will be on the PS3 at the same time, if not before the 360.
A USB Nic can be pretty handy. If you ever have to get drivers and updates for a machine that doesn't have a nic, or doesn't have nic drivers it can save you some time. Also, have a phone line available to test a 56k modem. While they seem like a thing of the past, people still use them.
I went to a high school which had an integrated laptop program. Each student could either lease one, or have access to one when needed. The amount of garbage that went on was amazing. Part of the class became "how to use a computer", and the other half of the time was people playing games instead of taking notes. The same thing happens in the class rooms in post secondary institutions.
What isn't mentioned in The article is the options. While Microsoft Word may be slower than Open Office, much more important things like ease of use, extra functions (like macros) or file size of the files. In the end it's basically "I opened each one five times and saw Microsoft Office took longer to open and close."
I hope the script isn't as bad as the scripts for Star Wars Episode 1, 2, and 3.
If you show them how to prevent such issues, and they ignore it, suspend their network access. They will start thinking a little more when they realise they won't be allowed to use the network/internet if they don't protect their computer.
The FBI have charged NORAD under anti-terror laws for pointing lasers at aircrafts.
In other news, Internet news source http://www.slashdot.org/ Breaches Canadian Publication Ban.
I would hate to be hit by someone using the rocket launcher.
Perhapse it's just because it's April 1st, but that sounds totally bogus. As far as floppy drives go, The lack of them would have been an issue five years ago. Most PC desktops and labtops no longer come with a floppy drive.
I'm sure having her image attached to Linux would [b]really[/b] improve the image of Linux /sarcasm
Keep in mind two of the felonies are for identity theft. She used confidential information accessed at work to get the passwords.
Here in Canada, all members of BlockBuster recieved a brochure outlining the terms of this, and it really isn't all that surprising. Does anyone really expect a video store to allow you to keep a video for as long as you want?
I believe the Dr. Who will be played on CBC as well, so you will at least be able to catch it in Canada, and probably in parts of the US as well.
Similar to Miridian, there is The Realm Online http://www.realmserver.com/ for $5.00 a month. Some feel that monthly fees are a horrible idea, but you get far more entertainment than renting a movie or going to a theater, which is almost the same price.
If you are looking for online gaming, there are a few smaller MMORPGs out there that have few controlls. There are several 2d ones out there that only require 4 directions, and left/right click.
Here are several of them:
Realm Online
http://www.realmserver.com/
Graal Online
http://www.graalonline.com/
Nexus: Kingdome of the winds
http://www.nexustk.com/
I am not sure the ease of use on all of them, but the first one in the list is point and click with turn based combat.
I wonder how much Pizza Hut payed for that feature. While it's something small, it has a fairly large advertising span.
I agree, however with rapant piracy, it's a valid reason not to accept returns. Most game companies allow you to send the box, game, and receipt to them for a refund.