Our complacency in saying that "Macs don't get viruses" does not ensure that we will not experience one later.
That "later" is now.
No it isn't, where's the virus?
While I agree with you in principle on the complacency issue, I don't see any reason to go BUY some "AV" software. Especially if Apple can do an update patch for this "potential" problem.
Here's what I've deduced... BuyMusic.com (which I will refer to as BM) got their "vast" music library of 300,000 plus songs from a company called the Orchard. The Orchard is a distribution company that has consistently shafted artists by not paying them for CD's sold nor returning unsold CD's or canceling contracts. So, without the express consent of what is likely all of the Orchards catalog, BM has put it up for sale at the bargain price of $.79 a song.
So now, they can tout they're selling tracks at $.79 and they can say they have a library of music of over 300,000 songs. But what they don't tell you is that it comes from musicians/bands that were not asked for permission, and who will likely not see a penny of any sale made through BM. By their very own site policy they are committing copyright infringement. They have done this to lure PC/windows users to their site in hopes to sell the few major label aquired songs they do have, at a price that is much higher than Apple's $.99.
don't seem to be too much different from any other user whose computer is "in the shop" and they can't access the files on said computer.
boo frickin hoo.
why aren't they on his iPod?
He can afford to buy a new Powerbook every 10 months but can't afford an iPod?
OK, now that I've said all that, it IS an interesting perspective on DRM as a whole, if Cory - as a literate, knowledgeable computer user- can screw things up, so can all the regular jamokes who are pretty clueless.
so I can watch the commercials I want. Yes, I do like watching some commercials.
But all this data has to come from the broadcasters. Too much extra work? Perhaps the Ad Slots are not filled until the last minute, so this might not be practical...
Maybe there should be an All Commercial Channel with indexed searchable commercials. I'd watch it!
Well, no actually, "I'd TIVO it".
more bad info from PC mag...
on
TiVo Will Die
·
· Score: 2, Informative
from the article:
"...And now the guys who make digital cable set-top boxes have gotten into the game. Motorola and Scientific Atlanta both make combo receiver/recorders for cable. And they're cheap, too: Viewers can't buy them but can typically rent a box for just $6 a month. That's half the cost of TiVo's monthly service charge after you've bought a TiVo unit for $300 or so."
He's got his numbers all screwed up.
I just got a DirecTv w/Tivo box and it cost $99 and the service is $4.95 per month.
but that does not mean I can produce your project:~/
heed the suggestions to either find a Production Company or Make this Yourself under the banner of a Production Company you create just for this.
The Discovery Channel only buys programming. They may enter into an agreement to co-sponsor something with a Production Company that has a track record with them, but you have nothing right now.
One of the best suggestions so far is to do the NPR thing, its really cheap (sound only) and you can possibly use this as leverage to get a Video Production Company onboard to do the filming.
However- the bad thing about being your own Production Company is that you have to find all the funding yourself and if you decide you can just make the Video yourself and you have no experience, you may end up with just an expensive home movie. Your project will have to fit into a pre-determined format and time frame (under 60 minutes, probably under 30 and in reality, it may just end up being a 5 minute bit as part of a newsmagazine show.....).
I don't have any recommendations for Production Companies to go to though, watch the credits carefully on some shows and look for name of the Production Company who actually produced the piece. You will find the same ones listed again and again.
Try sending out an ISP bulletin with the simple tips on how to avoid getting exploited in the first place. It's dead simple.
People don't read these. If their machine is still up and running, they don't care. The only time they will do anything is if their machine useless or their service is cut off.
If Grandma is just using the Interweb for email and browsing and such there is NO good reason for NOT using a Mac! These people are not interested in constantly updating their machines, they just expect them to work.
I have one friend who uses a Windows box that is constantly getting hosed by trojans and worms and viruses and he keeps using it until it grinds to a halt. Then he invites a tech friend over for dinner and the guy "cleans out" his machine and updates his system.
And this is how it is until it gets all farked again in a month or so. He keeps saying he'll get a Mac "one of these days...."
that day will be when his system is down and his tech friend is no longer available.
There are SO MANY people that are just "home users" that are NOT interested in all the maintenance involved with a Windows PC, but they have no clue what they are in for when they go shopping for one.
Along with the PR backlash, Marsh said he is also disappointed that SCO officials have spoken to media outlets about the financial terms of the contract between SCO and EV1.
"Any report that we made a cash payment of seven figures is highly exaggerated, and it disappoints me that that quote is out there in the media," Marsh said. "The contract that we signed with SCO specifically prohibits any party from discussing the economics of the transaction."
so now they can sue SCO and get their money back!
If its really bad you'll need one of these...
on
Hand-Powered Hardware?
·
· Score: 0, Offtopic
for someone with a limited amount of space, sure, these may fill a need.
But we already have our "lifestyle" computers in my house:
iBooks
my wife is a Realtor and when she's at home, she walks around the house with a headset phone on and her iBook goes wherever she does.
Every room she "hangs out" in has an iBook AC adapter in case she wants to plug in and of course the house has wireless internet.
Today I came home to find her in the kitchen, talking on the phone and the iBook was on the kitchen counter. Was she cooking? Yes. Was she using the iBook for a recipe? No.
She was on Mapquest looking up directions for someone and explaining how to drive there while she made the pasta.
But- if I installed a computer in the kitchen would she use it? NO.
She will also plop down in front of the TV and watch her Garden Shows with the iBook in her lap and also do Yahoo Crossword puzzles or browse the MLS listings at the same time.
She likes to move around and use: Phone, Computer, TV all at the same time and all in whatever room she wants to be in.
This is her current "lifestyle" and the tech is configured to suit it. I don't think she would go for an "all in one" device that locks her into one place.
However- if your "lifestyle" is one that involves as little moving around as possible, I can see these things being popular.
good points, my own observation is that it is similar to the rash of Cell Phone thefts that occurred when Cell Phones started getting popular (at $600-$1200 per "Bag Phone")
Here was a relatively small object that was "worth" alot of money and could easily be snatched and fenced or re-sold for maybe $50-$75.
Hey, I should know, I bought a stolen Bag Phone back in 1986 from someone on Maxwell Street. It was still activated and I could make calls from it. Of course, a day later, it ceased working and I tried to figure out what I could do to get it "working" again. That's OK, plenty more idiots where I came from....
After that episode, I noticed more guys boldly asking people on the street if they wanted to buy a "new" cell phone from the paper bag they were hiding it in. I would stand there and listen to the guy's pitch and usually there were 1 or 2 people interested in buying it. Then I would speak up and point out that it was probably stolen and the new owner would have a difficult, if not impossible time getting new service for a stolen Cell Phone. The response was "You Gotta Know Someone" to get it turned "On".
Unfortunately this only made the stolen Cell Phone more attractive to the college kids that wanted to buy it.
These thieves are the same ones stealing laptops now, they are probably the same ones stealing the "theft -deterrent" radios from our cars that will cease to work once removed. They just want to flip it for $20 to get high again.
Since I used to live in a neighborhood where this happened/happens frequently, I am assuming that the War On Drugs has not had much affect on this national pastime.
It's OK to sing it in a private setting, but TECHNICALLY, (according to SNOPES) one must pay for its use in any other setting:
Does this mean that everyone who warbles "Happy Birthday to You" to family members at birthday parties is engaging in copyright infringement if they fail to obtain permission from or pay royalties to the song's publisher? No. Royalties are due, of course, for commercial uses of the song, such as playing or singing it for profit, using it in movies, television programs, and stage shows, or incorporating it into musical products such as watches and greeting cards; as well, royalties are due for public performance, defined by copyright law as performances which occur "at a place open to the public, or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered." So, crooning "Happy Birthday to You" to family members and friends at home is fine, but performing a copyrighted work in a public setting such as a restaurant or a sports arena technically requires a license...
also from here this bit about the song and copyright law:
Copyright restrictions do not apply to each time that someone sings Happy Birthday to You to a family member, friend, or co-worker. This type of use is not copyright infringement for failure to obtain the permission from the publisher. Royalties are due only for commercial uses of the song, such as playing or singing it for profit (as did Western Union in its singing telegrams), using it in the movies, television shows, live stage shows, or incorporating the song into musical products, such as singing birthday greeting cards or candles. [Anderson, Bruce, "Beyond Measure," Attache, January 2002]. Royalties are also due and payable in instances of public performances, which are defined by copyright law as performances which occur "at a place open to the public, or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of family and its social acquaintances is gathered." [U.S.C. 106 of the Copyright Act].
So for those arguing that a "cover" of the song can sung without obtaining any rights, I would have a say that a precedence has been set and it does not appear to be in favor of Apple and Chiat Day.
Take a look at this catalog looks like plenty of stuff available there to me.
plus, you might want to read the story here about the NY Vespa dealer that decided to go with Mac and Filemaker Pro rather than deal with the Windows software that was "offered" by the Manufacturer.
Why did they choose to use Macs and Filemaker Pro when an existing Windows package was available? Here's a quote from the story:
"And the default choice for their new Vespa dealership was a PC-based software package, "because that's all the manufacturer had to offer,"
"When we talked to other dealers about the Vespa software package, everyone complained of horrible setup problems, errors, crashes. We checked the software vendor's update schedule, and every few weeks there was a new update. Not to mention the huge investment -- a seven or eight thousand dollar setup cost, plus an annual fee of several thousand dollars. And that didn't even include hardware! "
It appears this shop looked very closely at TCO and even though a Windows package was available, they chose not to use it!
My wife works in Real Estate, she uses a Mac. She has no problems.
The other agents are constantly hit up to buy all these little Windows apps that will "help" them work better and more efficiently, but mostly these apps just line the pockets of the IT guy who is recommending them.
Her TCO by using her iBook is MUCH lower than that of the agent in the next station who was told she had to buy a $2000 sub-notebook in order to be competitive.
I'm not even going to mention all the time everyone ELSE wastes patching their Windows computers while my wife just keeps working.
"...Next thing I tried: Fishing? Fishing is not the most obscure hobby. You are out of luck using a Mac to enhance it: 15 titles for Pc, NONE for Mac.
Slashdot Mirror
OK, I won't. :)
That "later" is now.
No it isn't, where's the virus?
While I agree with you in principle on the complacency issue, I don't see any reason to go BUY some "AV" software. Especially if Apple can do an update patch for this "potential" problem.
my bad, thanks for the correction.
bit 'o quote from the above link:
Otherwise he never would have said this:
boo frickin hoo.
why aren't they on his iPod?
He can afford to buy a new Powerbook every 10 months but can't afford an iPod?
OK, now that I've said all that, it IS an interesting perspective on DRM as a whole, if Cory - as a literate, knowledgeable computer user- can screw things up, so can all the regular jamokes who are pretty clueless.
Tivo does have a "Wish List" feature.....
But all this data has to come from the broadcasters. Too much extra work? Perhaps the Ad Slots are not filled until the last minute, so this might not be practical...
Maybe there should be an All Commercial Channel with indexed searchable commercials. I'd watch it!
Well, no actually, "I'd TIVO it".
He's got his numbers all screwed up.
I just got a DirecTv w/Tivo box and it cost $99 and the service is $4.95 per month.
"I just don't see a market for this... unless the price goes down to iPod levels.... "
Yes, if you do a GIS under Boat Anchor
heed the suggestions to either find a Production Company or Make this Yourself under the banner of a Production Company you create just for this.
The Discovery Channel only buys programming. They may enter into an agreement to co-sponsor something with a Production Company that has a track record with them, but you have nothing right now.
One of the best suggestions so far is to do the NPR thing, its really cheap (sound only) and you can possibly use this as leverage to get a Video Production Company onboard to do the filming.
However- the bad thing about being your own Production Company is that you have to find all the funding yourself and if you decide you can just make the Video yourself and you have no experience, you may end up with just an expensive home movie.
Your project will have to fit into a pre-determined format and time frame (under 60 minutes, probably under 30 and in reality, it may just end up being a 5 minute bit as part of a newsmagazine show.....).
I don't have any recommendations for Production Companies to go to though, watch the credits carefully on some shows and look for name of the Production Company who actually produced the piece. You will find the same ones listed again and again.
People don't read these. If their machine is still up and running, they don't care. The only time they will do anything is if their machine useless or their service is cut off.
Also- I'd make a little change to your list:
1: Get a Mac
OR
2. install patches regularly
3. virus scan
4. don't open attachments
5. don't install spyware.
If people used these 4 simple techniques,...
They won't, which why they should use #1 instead.
If Grandma is just using the Interweb for email and browsing and such there is NO good reason for NOT using a Mac! These people are not interested in constantly updating their machines, they just expect them to work.
I have one friend who uses a Windows box that is constantly getting hosed by trojans and worms and viruses and he keeps using it until it grinds to a halt. Then he invites a tech friend over for dinner and the guy "cleans out" his machine and updates his system.
And this is how it is until it gets all farked again in a month or so. He keeps saying he'll get a Mac "one of these days...."
that day will be when his system is down and his tech friend is no longer available.
There are SO MANY people that are just "home users" that are NOT interested in all the maintenance involved with a Windows PC, but they have no clue what they are in for when they go shopping for one.
Y.A. arguement to drag into the Mac vs Microsoft TCO"discussion"....
so now they can sue SCO and get their money back!
ref: James Burke's CONNECTIONS
just stick it across the street from the MIR SPACE STATION so it won't get lonely...
But we already have our "lifestyle" computers in my house:
iBooks
my wife is a Realtor and when she's at home, she walks around the house with a headset phone on and her iBook goes wherever she does.
Every room she "hangs out" in has an iBook AC adapter in case she wants to plug in and of course the house has wireless internet.
Today I came home to find her in the kitchen, talking on the phone and the iBook was on the kitchen counter. Was she cooking?
Yes.
Was she using the iBook for a recipe?
No.
She was on Mapquest looking up directions for someone and explaining how to drive there while she made the pasta.
But- if I installed a computer in the kitchen would she use it?
NO.
She will also plop down in front of the TV and watch her Garden Shows with the iBook in her lap and also do Yahoo Crossword puzzles or browse the MLS listings at the same time.
She likes to move around and use: Phone, Computer, TV all at the same time and all in whatever room she wants to be in.
This is her current "lifestyle" and the tech is configured to suit it. I don't think she would go for an "all in one" device that locks her into one place.
However- if your "lifestyle" is one that involves as little moving around as possible, I can see these things being popular.
Here was a relatively small object that was "worth" alot of money and could easily be snatched and fenced or re-sold for maybe $50-$75.
Hey, I should know, I bought a stolen Bag Phone back in 1986 from someone on Maxwell Street. It was still activated and I could make calls from it.
Of course, a day later, it ceased working and I tried to figure out what I could do to get it "working" again.
That's OK, plenty more idiots where I came from....
After that episode, I noticed more guys boldly asking people on the street if they wanted to buy a "new" cell phone from the paper bag they were hiding it in. I would stand there and listen to the guy's pitch and usually there were 1 or 2 people interested in buying it. Then I would speak up and point out that it was probably stolen and the new owner would have a difficult, if not impossible time getting new service for a stolen Cell Phone.
The response was "You Gotta Know Someone" to get it turned "On".
Unfortunately this only made the stolen Cell Phone more attractive to the college kids that wanted to buy it.
These thieves are the same ones stealing laptops now, they are probably the same ones stealing the "theft -deterrent" radios from our cars that will cease to work once removed. They just want to flip it for $20 to get high again.
Since I used to live in a neighborhood where this happened/happens frequently, I am assuming that the War On Drugs has not had much affect on this national pastime.
also from here this bit about the song and copyright law:
So for those arguing that a "cover" of the song can sung without obtaining any rights, I would have a say that a precedence has been set and it does not appear to be in favor of Apple and Chiat Day.
My TCOF (Total Cost Of Fishing) would be much lower if I just used a computer program instead a rod and reel, line, hooks, bait, boats, beer......
plus, you might want to read the story here about the NY Vespa dealer that decided to go with Mac and Filemaker Pro rather than deal with the Windows software that was "offered" by the Manufacturer.
Why did they choose to use Macs and Filemaker Pro when an existing Windows package was available?
Here's a quote from the story:
It appears this shop looked very closely at TCO and even though a Windows package was available, they chose not to use it!
My wife works in Real Estate, she uses a Mac. She has no problems.
The other agents are constantly hit up to buy all these little Windows apps that will "help" them work better and more efficiently, but mostly these apps just line the pockets of the IT guy who is recommending them.
Her TCO by using her iBook is MUCH lower than that of the agent in the next station who was told she had to buy a $2000 sub-notebook in order to be competitive.
I'm not even going to mention all the time everyone ELSE wastes patching their Windows computers while my wife just keeps working.
"...Next thing I tried: Fishing? Fishing is not the most obscure hobby. You are out of luck using a Mac to enhance it: 15 titles for Pc, NONE for Mac.
No Fishing apps for the Mac? How sad.
So what is missing?
If there is a lack of overall interest in the platform, why does Microsoft Office exist for the Mac OS?
What exactly ARE these unmet software needs that "the majority" is clammoring for?
The latest first person shooter?
Your generalizations are completely unfounded.
what if someone DID pay $8000 for this number and then promptly forwarded ALL incoming calls to some off-shore $49 per minute phone service?
1: obtain 867-5309 # at all costs
2: forward to very expensive 900 service line
3: $$ Profit! $$