I'm sure they will. They don't have the experience that Sony does to create their own, proprietary format, and the units have to be built now, before the next-gen format is settled. Sometimes you have to go with the best you have, and right now that's standard DVD. And why not? Plays people's existing library of movies, probably with HD pull-up, and is still plenty for game content. Still "good enough" for playing other compressed HD video - WMV-HD, for example.
Besides, I highly doubt Microsoft wants you to use the gaming console for "content creation" or even movie playback. That's what Windows MCE is for.
What you say makes sense, but is there a reason you couldn't use average bitrate for a quality-based encoded file? E.g., encode each file using multiple quality settings with each codec, then compare files from each codec that are of a similar overall size, regardless of which setting produced the file.
Heh. Even with glowplugs, it seemed that the key to starting our HMMWV's here in our Wisconsin winters was cursing. Lots of cursing. My theory was the saltiness of the language helped unfreeze the engine.
Interesting! Here's the real question, though: travelling at 55mph, does it use more fuel to operate your air conditioning system, or increase your drag by opening the windows/moonroof?
Diesel also does a better job at low-speed, high-torque operation, which is really handy when you're trying to make electricity. That's the reason that electric-powered ships and trains run diesel in the first place.
Thanks for the explanation. I wish somebody would have modded you up. +5 Informative!
We've made a name for ourselves as being the one company in the industry that, better than anybody else, understands the need to zealously protect intellectual property.
Whaaaa...?
Maybe I'm mistaken, because I don't follow these things closely, but isn't one of the main "features" of iTMS for slashdotters the ridiculously simple process for stripping FairPlay DRM? And isn't the complaint about WM* that it is possible to create more content restrictions and that nobody has been able to reliably crack it?
Good call on that. Nice, unobtrusive hardware; huge monster hi-def picture. Also: new technology to watch for projectors...
1. Laser projectors. Still in the development phase, so who knows if it will see the light of day, but the concept is sound. Use three diode lasers: red, green, and blue, with a system of mirrors and semiconductor light "valves" to paint a picture on the wall using laser light. Supposedly, the contrast ratio is astounding and the color saturation is way beyond any other display technology.
2. Sony's black screen. This one is already in the market channels, expect it soon. Practically solves the ambient light problem. Basically, it looks like a flat black screen, absorbing the majority of ambient light. But it reflects light in the exact bands of red, green, and blue that projectors use, so your projected images reflect just like they would on an old-fashioned screen. This dramatically improves contrast and gives you dark blacks even with moderate amounts of ambient light. Probably won't be cheap, though.
Seems what the market needs is a diesel/electric hybrid
Would this really work, though? The peculiar thing about the engines in hybrids is that they start and stop very frequently; in fact, they are tuned to be able to stop running entirely while the vehicle is stopped, then start within a half-second or so when the gas is pressed. I've always understood diesels to be much more finicky and difficult about starting. Or have they managed to beat this problem as well? Are there quick-starting diesels now?
DRM is a tool. How it is used is up to the content distributors. Liberal licensing of the DRM should ensure healthy competition among the distributors. In this case, blaming Microsoft for how some distributors use their tool is like blaming the developers of PGP for making encryption that criminals can use to aid in their criminal acts. Thanks to the liberal licensing, though, there is competition in the distributor marketplace.
This is a better model for consumers than a one-vendor, one-device lock-in whose DRM terms could be changed at any time, leaving consumers with absolutely no recourse.
I understand all that. I was simply pointing out that as a consumer, I don't give a crap if Apple needs the revenue, because the Microsoft model works more to my benefit, in that it induces much greater competition in the music player and music download markets.
I understand that. I was simply pointing out that as a consumer, the Microsoft model works more to my benefit, because it induces much greater competition.
Why not? Woudn't it be of benefit to consumers? Or better yet, how about Apple licensing their DRM liberally, like Microsoft does, so that we can play our iTMS songs on other-than-Apple devices? How would this hurt the consumer?
1. No, they couldn't, because they could not possibly license the music in an unprotected format. Ergo, they, and everybody else, are locked out of providing DRM music for the iPod.
2. Try doing a bit-for-bit comparison of WMA9 VBR quality-based encoding to other formats. You might be pleasantly surprised at the quality.
Ah. But are they leveraging their market dominance in one area - digital music players - to lock consumers into another, separate product of theirs - music sales? Clearly, the answer is yes, and this is in contrast to MS here, who liberally licenses their tech to many manufacturers/vendors. This hasn't - yet - crossed into coercing of vendors, though I would not be surprised to see that happen. If/when it does, though, I fully expect Apple apologists to claim it's a benefit to consumers.
Well, mp3 isn't a choice for most (legal) music download services. Still, she's just whining. Basically, when it comes to DRM'ed downloads, you only really have a choice between two lock-in schemes: iTMS on iPod, or $WMA_MUSIC_STORE on a PlaysForSure device.
Having said that, though, I personally think the Apple lock-in is a worse deal. The selection of both devices and services is far narrower, and Apple doesn't seem to want to play nice with their licensing, where at least MS has been fairly liberal in that regard.
Meddling can take many forms. One thing that causes considerable consternation and dislike of the United States among the more...fanatical...is the influence of our culture, so-called "soft influence." Blue jeans, rock-and-roll, the lure of individualism and free expression. What are we supposed to do to stop this "meddling?" Do we eliminate those things at the source (i.e., here at home)? Do we side always with the regimes in power who wish to crush democratic movements and retain rigid control of their populations' cultures? Make it a matter of foreign policy never to support "subversive" freedom movements?
Your conception of the problem is naive and your solution is simplistic.
I completely agree. Now that the Solomon Amendment puts the shoe on the other foot, so to speak, it will be interesting to see how the SCOTUS comes down on the practice.
The solution to dealing with extremists is not to cave in to their demands. Do you also think we should start negotiating with hostage-takers, and tailor our abortion laws to satisfy people who kill doctors and bomb clinics?
Slashdot Mirror
I'm sure they will. They don't have the experience that Sony does to create their own, proprietary format, and the units have to be built now, before the next-gen format is settled. Sometimes you have to go with the best you have, and right now that's standard DVD. And why not? Plays people's existing library of movies, probably with HD pull-up, and is still plenty for game content. Still "good enough" for playing other compressed HD video - WMV-HD, for example.
Besides, I highly doubt Microsoft wants you to use the gaming console for "content creation" or even movie playback. That's what Windows MCE is for.
What you say makes sense, but is there a reason you couldn't use average bitrate for a quality-based encoded file? E.g., encode each file using multiple quality settings with each codec, then compare files from each codec that are of a similar overall size, regardless of which setting produced the file.
Not to mention, that Spamalot is a musical based on the Holy Grail.
"No singing! No singing! Stop that right now!"
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any such tests comparing quality-based encoding, because the bitrate can be unpredictable.
Heh. Even with glowplugs, it seemed that the key to starting our HMMWV's here in our Wisconsin winters was cursing. Lots of cursing. My theory was the saltiness of the language helped unfreeze the engine.
I keed, I keed.
Interesting! Here's the real question, though: travelling at 55mph, does it use more fuel to operate your air conditioning system, or increase your drag by opening the windows/moonroof?
Thanks for the explanation. I wish somebody would have modded you up. +5 Informative!
Whaaaa...?
Maybe I'm mistaken, because I don't follow these things closely, but isn't one of the main "features" of iTMS for slashdotters the ridiculously simple process for stripping FairPlay DRM? And isn't the complaint about WM* that it is possible to create more content restrictions and that nobody has been able to reliably crack it?
1. Laser projectors. Still in the development phase, so who knows if it will see the light of day, but the concept is sound. Use three diode lasers: red, green, and blue, with a system of mirrors and semiconductor light "valves" to paint a picture on the wall using laser light. Supposedly, the contrast ratio is astounding and the color saturation is way beyond any other display technology.
2. Sony's black screen. This one is already in the market channels, expect it soon. Practically solves the ambient light problem. Basically, it looks like a flat black screen, absorbing the majority of ambient light. But it reflects light in the exact bands of red, green, and blue that projectors use, so your projected images reflect just like they would on an old-fashioned screen. This dramatically improves contrast and gives you dark blacks even with moderate amounts of ambient light. Probably won't be cheap, though.
Would this really work, though? The peculiar thing about the engines in hybrids is that they start and stop very frequently; in fact, they are tuned to be able to stop running entirely while the vehicle is stopped, then start within a half-second or so when the gas is pressed. I've always understood diesels to be much more finicky and difficult about starting. Or have they managed to beat this problem as well? Are there quick-starting diesels now?
This is a better model for consumers than a one-vendor, one-device lock-in whose DRM terms could be changed at any time, leaving consumers with absolutely no recourse.
I understand all that. I was simply pointing out that as a consumer, I don't give a crap if Apple needs the revenue, because the Microsoft model works more to my benefit, in that it induces much greater competition in the music player and music download markets.
I understand that. I was simply pointing out that as a consumer, the Microsoft model works more to my benefit, because it induces much greater competition.
Why not? Woudn't it be of benefit to consumers? Or better yet, how about Apple licensing their DRM liberally, like Microsoft does, so that we can play our iTMS songs on other-than-Apple devices? How would this hurt the consumer?
2. Try doing a bit-for-bit comparison of WMA9 VBR quality-based encoding to other formats. You might be pleasantly surprised at the quality.
Ah. But are they leveraging their market dominance in one area - digital music players - to lock consumers into another, separate product of theirs - music sales? Clearly, the answer is yes, and this is in contrast to MS here, who liberally licenses their tech to many manufacturers/vendors. This hasn't - yet - crossed into coercing of vendors, though I would not be surprised to see that happen. If/when it does, though, I fully expect Apple apologists to claim it's a benefit to consumers.
These folks appear to be attempting to make a go of a more serious version of Slashdot: technocrat.net.
Having said that, though, I personally think the Apple lock-in is a worse deal. The selection of both devices and services is far narrower, and Apple doesn't seem to want to play nice with their licensing, where at least MS has been fairly liberal in that regard.
Your conception of the problem is naive and your solution is simplistic.
I completely agree. Now that the Solomon Amendment puts the shoe on the other foot, so to speak, it will be interesting to see how the SCOTUS comes down on the practice.
The solution to dealing with extremists is not to cave in to their demands. Do you also think we should start negotiating with hostage-takers, and tailor our abortion laws to satisfy people who kill doctors and bomb clinics?
Actually, he already had warrants out for unrelated stuff when he was pulled over on the day of the bombing.
I think you misspelled "every couple of yards."