I was aware of some software under Windows 3.1 for Workgroups w/ a soundblaster card that created synthesised speech. It was quite in depth, if I remember correct one of the examples that came with it was a group of three voices "singing" jingle bells in harmony. The software allowed for specific choices in pitch and rhythym which are really the only things that seperate speech from song.
Perhaps my comment would have been better worded "The biggest Moral Qualm many people have with Microsoft....." First for you information my mother still prefers windows over linux, and I have come to my conclusions myself. Secondly money and loads of it has never actually in history proven to improve innovation, in fact countless times it has stiffled it. What promotes innovation is innovation, building upon one another. Innovation happens (well used to) when men (and women in some cases) came together to bounce off each others ideas, Steve Wozniak was known to pass around schematics of the Apple II to the origional homebrew Computer Club. All of the "countless millions of dollors" that Microsoft has poured into research would have been never possible, not to mention useless, without the previous work of hundreds of others done for pure enjoyment and shared openly. The true difference that we seem to have set in our ways is, why Linux, or perhaps better worded as the purpose of Linux looking forwards. A lot of people follow the ideal as you apparently do that Linux exists as a competitor to Microsoft, and will continue to develop into something that has a credible share of the markets of Servers, Desktops, Mobile devices, and whatever else. This is a pretty noble cause, and I have no problems with its motives. But when it lowers to the levels of:
"Right now, we need to do for Linux what was done for Excel and Quattro Pro when they made a 'Lotus-123 compatible menus' an option in their software.
THAT will get the users converted!
we have problem. When innovation is replaced with replication..."well microsoft got a 1.2% desktop usage increase when they changed _________ so obviously we should do that to..." Linux should never be brought down to the level of a mere more stable windows. The reason Linux has come so far is because it was different. Because it didn't follow the advice of the multi-million funded researchers, because sometimes multiple millions of dolllars in research can be wrong. To me Linux should not be about "winning converts" but rather improving and creating something that really is innovative.
Hmmm is this really any improvement? The biggest complaint many people have with Microsoft and Windows, is that its proprietary nature stiffles any innovation. I'd much rather see someone make a desktop that expands beyond XP then tries its hardest to emulate it. Id be more excited about a DEXP, Doesn't Emulate XP then an XPDE.
Driving back from a concert I noticed a store whih aparently specialized in Tatoos and Drug Paraphenalia. I wonder if any of these stores get sued when a druggie runs someone over crossing the streat. Or perhaps an even better example, has any drunk driving accident victim sued the bar which sold them the drink?
Universities are not private entities. They are PUBLIC and funded by tax money. People pay tax thinking that this money would be spent for something good for the society.
While I have moral qualms about this icarus thing, the question must be asked. Should the public pay for students to pirate music and movies?
It is the universities internet connection they are providing to students, and is subject to their policies of use. If students want to download illegal content, they have the freedom to attain their own internet connection through some other means.
You could say the same for any operating system that monopolizes the market and is pushing for the ability to push updates to their users (unbeknownst to them). Which narrows it down pretty thin.
I wouldn't be horrified if a company putting out a competing OS admitted that they are working towards a more secure network due to a poor level of security at the moment. What horrifies me is a monopoly, seeking to gain the power to push updates to millions of computers instantly, simply stating that their current level of risk is medium to high. How is that any different from NORAD saying there is a Medium to High level of risk of Islamic Extremists infiltrating their facilities gaining access to the countries nucleur arsenal?
Ok without putting in some microsoft bashing statement I have to say Im horrified at the idea that Microsoft admits in their own white-paper that they might be compromised on the highest level. Screw source code, what about automatic "updates" (They have been in the past few months especially promoting their automatic-update software, and it is expected within the next few years to be a binding part of their EULA, but even now I know for a fact most users will chose to let windows download selected updates automatically)? The same company millions are trusting to push updates unknown to them to their computer is admitting they will probably be compormised within the next year??? Does this not shock anyone? It would take next to nothing with access to their automatic update ability to wreck havoc on millions of users, imagine delete IE, and then their update system (after uploading the update itself) and 99.99% of all the users would be toast! this is serious stuff, we're talking millions of users potential take over at the hands of a script kiddie....and its glossed over in some security white paper? You have to be kidding me, where is the whole Homeland Security Department? NSA? DoD? who always seem to want to stick their noses in everything else done in the IT world? A company convicted of monopolizing the OS business now without skipping a beat making statements in a security white paper such as "There is a medium to high probability that within the next year, a successful attack will occur that could compromise the High Value and/or Highest Value data class." and "robability: High. Even with current controls, attacks have occurred and will likely happen again."
When I saw this story I was shocked, in a good way. At this end we see someone pushing to make linux better for the end user on the desktop enviroment. At the same time though we see SuSe being bought by Caldera, and possibly not providing the free downloads of their distribution, and Red Hat said recently they might pull their free downloads as well. I feel we might be on the verge of a major split in the evolution of Linux, one side pushing towards the enterprise making linux commercialized (if thats a word). And the other trying to push it to the desktop...
Maybe if you tought some of the millions of mindless drones clicking "I feel lucky" on google and taking everything they read as god breathed. In schools they need to be teaching kids to look at the source of their information closely, and in the workplace instead of teaching employees route memorization of "click here to check e-mail, click here to delete a message, click here to close e-mail...etc" teach them some basic computing principles, including conducting research on the internet.
Where have you found any proof crime is going down in Europe due to the limitations of gun use check these links:
http://www.sweetliberty.org/issues/guns/britishcri merates.htm
"PEOPLE living in England and Wales are at greater risk of falling victim to crime than citizens of most other industrialised nations"
http://
"English crime rates almost immediately began a steady rise, for the first time in 500 years. The overall crime rate in England and Wales is now 60 percent higher than in the United States. And it wasn't just crime in general: Gun crimes became far more common as well."
http://www.justfacts.com/gc_facts_excluded.htm
http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-guncontrol.htm
There are many more examples...but just as a last point, look at this:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859 -1&q=statistics+europe&cat=gwd%2FTop%2FSociety%2FI ssues%2FGun_Control%2FAnti-Gun_Rights
...coincidence i think not
I can see Linux running on PS3, I can see Linux running on a networked media center, in school computer labs, and on laptops. I think Linux needs to take the Desktop.
School computer labs saved Apple, looking at budget deficits, underfunded, and ill-equipped schools Open Source solutions (particularly linux) should sweep like wildfire, if only it can catch on somewhere. Imagine if some school-systems adopted linux into their computer labs, parents had linux on their work desktops, and then the final link is the families downloading (or buying) linux distributions for the home. Then it would force Microsoft to put out a product, that was better (or was advertised as such) than Linux instead of being able to force more crap upon mindless drones. Stuff like the PS3/networked media center will become linux users soon enough, not because of public demand (cause most consumers don't care), but through competition between linux solutions and proprietary ones. It's not about linux dominance or Redhat dominance or fighting Windows dominance its about education of the general masses allowing for the presence of competition.
Although I am an increasing mac fan, I have to agree with you. The only reason Apple still exists is because of their deals they have made to get into schools. Makes you wonder if they where to afraid it would fail to get behind it....
Perhaps some awesome game that came out only for linux...i mean not just something that looks like a game for linux, but something of AA porportions...just an idea, because as of now gamers are driving a lot of the technology.
Slashdot Mirror
I was aware of some software under Windows 3.1 for Workgroups w/ a soundblaster card that created synthesised speech. It was quite in depth, if I remember correct one of the examples that came with it was a group of three voices "singing" jingle bells in harmony. The software allowed for specific choices in pitch and rhythym which are really the only things that seperate speech from song.
Hmmm is this really any improvement? The biggest complaint many people have with Microsoft and Windows, is that its proprietary nature stiffles any innovation. I'd much rather see someone make a desktop that expands beyond XP then tries its hardest to emulate it. Id be more excited about a DEXP, Doesn't Emulate XP then an XPDE.
Too Late: RIAA sues ISPs
Dude, did you read it, Australia, its going to at least be a few more years before bush owns them too....
Driving back from a concert I noticed a store whih aparently specialized in Tatoos and Drug Paraphenalia. I wonder if any of these stores get sued when a druggie runs someone over crossing the streat. Or perhaps an even better example, has any drunk driving accident victim sued the bar which sold them the drink?
While I have moral qualms about this icarus thing, the question must be asked. Should the public pay for students to pirate music and movies?
It is the universities internet connection they are providing to students, and is subject to their policies of use. If students want to download illegal content, they have the freedom to attain their own internet connection through some other means.
Just think all that fun packed into 30 seconds...next thing you know it they will insert random sounds, and french aliens.
You could say the same for any operating system that monopolizes the market and is pushing for the ability to push updates to their users (unbeknownst to them). Which narrows it down pretty thin.
You certainly have a valid point, but still would we accept "we are making improvements" on security for our nuclear arsenal?
I wouldn't be horrified if a company putting out a competing OS admitted that they are working towards a more secure network due to a poor level of security at the moment. What horrifies me is a monopoly, seeking to gain the power to push updates to millions of computers instantly, simply stating that their current level of risk is medium to high. How is that any different from NORAD saying there is a Medium to High level of risk of Islamic Extremists infiltrating their facilities gaining access to the countries nucleur arsenal?
Ok without putting in some microsoft bashing statement I have to say Im horrified at the idea that Microsoft admits in their own white-paper that they might be compromised on the highest level. Screw source code, what about automatic "updates" (They have been in the past few months especially promoting their automatic-update software, and it is expected within the next few years to be a binding part of their EULA, but even now I know for a fact most users will chose to let windows download selected updates automatically)? The same company millions are trusting to push updates unknown to them to their computer is admitting they will probably be compormised within the next year??? Does this not shock anyone? It would take next to nothing with access to their automatic update ability to wreck havoc on millions of users, imagine delete IE, and then their update system (after uploading the update itself) and 99.99% of all the users would be toast! this is serious stuff, we're talking millions of users potential take over at the hands of a script kiddie....and its glossed over in some security white paper? You have to be kidding me, where is the whole Homeland Security Department? NSA? DoD? who always seem to want to stick their noses in everything else done in the IT world? A company convicted of monopolizing the OS business now without skipping a beat making statements in a security white paper such as "There is a medium to high probability that within the next year, a successful attack will occur that could compromise the High Value and/or Highest Value data class." and "robability: High. Even with current controls, attacks have occurred and will likely happen again."
When I saw this story I was shocked, in a good way. At this end we see someone pushing to make linux better for the end user on the desktop enviroment. At the same time though we see SuSe being bought by Caldera, and possibly not providing the free downloads of their distribution, and Red Hat said recently they might pull their free downloads as well. I feel we might be on the verge of a major split in the evolution of Linux, one side pushing towards the enterprise making linux commercialized (if thats a word). And the other trying to push it to the desktop...
we always have been at war with eurasia right?
Maybe if you tought some of the millions of mindless drones clicking "I feel lucky" on google and taking everything they read as god breathed. In schools they need to be teaching kids to look at the source of their information closely, and in the workplace instead of teaching employees route memorization of "click here to check e-mail, click here to delete a message, click here to close e-mail...etc" teach them some basic computing principles, including conducting research on the internet.
sorry i got it wrong again :P stupid tab key is screwing me over:
Fox News Report
justthefacts.com
huppi.com
Google Search for Statistics in Europe
Sorry again
sorry heres the links:
http://www.justfacts.com/gc_facts_excluded.htm
http://www.sweetliberty.org/issues/guns/britishcr
http://
http://www.justfacts.com/gc_facts_excluded.htm http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-guncontrol.htm There are many more examples...but just as a last point, look at this: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-885
Message, what message.....thats their whole philosophy @ microsoft...
1.) Bash 2.) GCC 3.) X11 4.) Emacs
Although I am an increasing mac fan, I have to agree with you. The only reason Apple still exists is because of their deals they have made to get into schools. Makes you wonder if they where to afraid it would fail to get behind it....
...maybe microsofts got a deal with some memory chip manufacturers
Perhaps some awesome game that came out only for linux...i mean not just something that looks like a game for linux, but something of AA porportions...just an idea, because as of now gamers are driving a lot of the technology.