Depending on the deal a retailer has with a credit card company (or a merchant services company, further down the foodchain), the monthly fee and sometimes volume typically mastercard and visa take between 1-4 points (percent) for a transaction. American express and Discover cost considerably more.
As far as the artists cut, it comes out of the record label's cut. I am under the (slightly informed, as Im a musician and have checked into this before.....though, its a black art at best anyhow) assumption that the band gets 10-35 cents per album.... $1 sounds awful expensive to the record labels.
I recall all of my Windows apps running perfectly, if not better...though I had no dedicated DOS/Win install to directly compare it to.
What I believe did Os/2 in (aside from IBM's hamfisted marketing department)--and this is the same scenario--is that if it runs Windows apps too there is no incentive to develope native apps, 'cuz developing Windows apps means developing for Linux (then Os/2) and Windows at the same time with no added overhead to the development cycle, save for perhaps bug testing.
Though, I think Linux is in a vastly different circumstance here. I do actually think it will encourage migration--though slight. This will (very slowly) attract developers.
Remember, Linux has no bottem line to answer to. Though, perhaps the Linux community could learn a couple tips from IBM's marketing department.
Wheres the OpenMarketing initiative?
They need that...that and a OpenInterface consortium. Get the coders away from the interface.
Don't get me wrong, the console had a few good games (like Zelda), but there weren't many... just like with the GC. Metroid Prime, Resident Evil Remake, and Zelda (although I wish it was longer) were decent games, but... that's about it.
I'll get this out of the way now so you can calibrate my point of view: I'm a Nintendo player, and fan...not fanboy, as I agree with you on their many many blunders over the years. I swear they have their heads up their asses half the time. (The N64 cartridge debacle at the top of my list)
Every game I have rented for my GC (purchased, used, just last month...video games aren't terribly high on my list of priorities these days) has been fun...very playable. Even if the controller takes quite a bit to get used to (for each game--much like all the systems these days--but far worse)
My Ps2--which was given to me--has been relegated to my closet...aside from GTA3/ViceCity, which plays and looks far better (and is far more hackable) on my PC. The PS2 consistently amazes me with the utterly boring software available for it. Granted, there are more 'hot titles', but, per capita Nintendo's offerings are more entertaining, by far.
I was under the impression that the Ps2 handily beat the GC graphically/processor wise...yet, the GC titles appear to look far better and far more polished on average. Most of the PS2 library is garbage...IMHO, of course.
Of course, I think this is an entirely moot point. I think Nintendo and Sony are going for two entirely different (but mutually overlapping) markets here...not just the 'adolescent/young teen VS Teen/Adult' market....but functionality and price wise. Nintendo is in a position to undercut the prices for all of it's consoles signifigantly at a moments notice...Sony isn't stupid. They have a piece of far advanced technology on their hands here...Manufacturing it themselves or not, increasing efficiency in processes over time or not, Sony doesn't want to sell a bargain system. In fact, I could see them keeping the price artifically high as an attempt to effect it's percieved value and quality. (ie: their insane early-adopter prices).
Another point I feel is worth consideration is that in a portable system, most of the time (I assume, of course...this is slashdot) I doubt that people want to turn their portable game system on to pick a couple minutes off of the 40-hour full-scale video game, or view 3D worlds and characters on a minute screen.... simplicity here I think is key. Tetris and it's ilk are what I wanna play when I have a couple minutes to kill waiting in line, on lunch break or on the bus.
So far, when sony has said it's going to deliver something, they have come up with everything they said at a minimum if not more.
I was interested in your views--opposing or not--untill I read this.
Pay attention much?
The brazen, baseless and specificity lacking MS bash further reinforces the fanboyism. (and I hate MS as much as the next slashdotter, but I can tell you why...and wouldn't accuse out of context without reference.)
Nintendo will not converge, nor will they partner up.
The Playstation was supposed to be an SNES CD-ROM upgrade!
Aside from the Panasonic DVD/Gamecube player--which the states has failed to see at all--and a handfull of bombed projects Nintendo has learned it's lesson...
Besides, given it's terribly stringent licensing requirements I'd be very surprised to see a Nintendo-Portable/Cellphone, let alone a partnership with another company to develop the same.
Like the multiplication tables? Hell, I could make a table of just about anything if you want to stretch it that far.
Perhaps I have a farm and want to have donkeys and rooster...but only have so much land, and each animal needs a certain amount of nutrients and space--provided by said land. How much land do I need to allocate to each?
Hot shit, I'd better consult the Donkey Tables...or would that be Rooster Tables?
Ass to Cock area tables?
In all seriousness, I could find no mention of a 'coaxial table' on google, save for a couple impedence vs. length charts...if that's what you mean by 'coaxial table', well, that sounds awful half-cocked as well.
Excellent point...and also lead me up to this one:
bombs go off and the school blows up. Then the FBI discovers that the student requested information on the tunnels but no one flagged it as unusual. What happens next? All the newspapers are filled with stories about how..........the FOIA was used to aid a terrorist. the FOIA would be under very close scrutiny by the public at large.
What chance do you think the FOIA has against the current administration? I bet that's one of the first things they'd wanna put the kaibash on.
Personally, I think that due dilligence was displayed on behalf of the FBI. They just wanted to verify and validate the intentions of the request and requester
However, another poster brought up a great point, what if--even if the request is found legitmate and innocent--there is any trace of this request and/or investigation? On credit history? On employment records? Arrest history? Housing records? Motor vehicle records?
Some may wish to don their tin-foil hats before considering this. It does sound 'out there'.... but I am not suggesting that this is the case. But if it is nobody said it'd be a conspiracy.
Leave it up to the judgement of the people reviewing such records to screw you. It's real easy to lead a horse to water...but if you lead a thirsty horse to water, well, don't be surprised if it drinks.
I was always under the assumption--and I'm quite willing to be corrected--that HyperTransport and HyperThreading were absolutely diametrically opposed
HyperTransport was a way to virtualize multiple processors as one processor, and HyperThreading was a method to virtualize one processor as multiple processors.
Please, correct me if I'm wrong...
But, I think that AMD's way makes far more sense. Both in the realm of scalability and of pure common sense.
HyperThreading, to me, seems like a cheat catering to the maximization of legacy software operation whereas HyperTransport is a cheat catering to the maximization of hardware operation... (another point I'm willing--and eager--to be proven wrong on)
(in my view) HyperTransport puts the burden of dealing with multiple processors on the hardware, and HyperThreading puts a hardware hack in place to put the burden on the operating system...and I haven't been terribly impressed with (well, windows anyway...my primary platform, and not by choice) the SMP stuff I've dealt with....and AMD's approach seems to hit the sweet spot in this situation.
Very astute of you...even if by accident;)
Give me a break. I have been tracking since the early 90s, and programming since I was 8. For fun I used to try to track convincing depictions of battlefields, ufo landings, explosions, etc. When I was 12 I was thinking about how to make a program I called sound stage which lets your place emitters in a 3-dimensional space that keeps track of the audio's propogation and reflections. I got bored eventially and never finished it (I guess it could've been a good thing to pursue). Lets just say, I know all about this crap:-P.
Like I said, "even if"...I, as well, have been multitracking digital for almost 15 years (though the hardware at my disposal at the time was, shall we say, lack luster)...I composed my first MOD file (no major feat, I know) at the age of 11 ('90 if I recall correctly, which I may not), my first 'album', if you will, at 14. On a daily basis I am involved in sound analysis, recording/engineering, production, mixing....etc, etc, etc. While I can only afford 24/96khz hardware currently, I upsample, work and mix to 32/192khz... and 32/256khz...Argue, if you will, about any inherent lack of reason to go above 24/44.1khz...that would certainly state what you really know about post processing and the human brain/perception. (Sorry if I sound arrogant about that, but I've been involved in far too many "but the human ear can barely hear up to 18khz so why sample over that" arguments....I'm willing to bet that you know what I'm talking about)
I'm no stranger to the analog waveform (or it's digital representation).
A simulation is obviously "cheating" (in the terms you defined...and I agree), but the simulation involved in 3D video is far far far closer to reality than any 3D audio I've encountered.
The 3D space that has been simulated so far actually attempts to recreat (aside from the visual element) actual physics, motion, etc...(though I think saying 'physics' covers everything needing mention)...real life dimensions, real life 'collision' interpretation, etc.
Admittedly, I'm not a graphics guy, or a coder, or anywhere close. My interests are focused mainly on audio...sound. So my comparisons may be a bit off.
I, personally, think that simulation is (or, ideally, should be) attempting to authentically recreat (as is technologically possibly) whatever the object is in every way shape and form...to a accurate representation of reality.
Mimicry, to me, is more along the lines of 'convincing the audience that it is real'.
I realize that for all intents and purposes to 'mimic' and to 'simulate' are just about the same basic idea.
But wouldn't you rather have a 3D aurally modeled room, down to every single reflection, phase inversion, resonant tone and frequency range taking into consideration any objects that are in the room and their and construction, as opposed to some real fancy reverb? (or, god forbid, the horrid stereo-phase-fucks that are considered '3d audio' techology on most consumer branded hardware...all of which just as easily doable in software at a minor (if noticable) processor load)
Keep in mind that I am talking about 'synthetic audible environment creation'...not 'synthetic audible environment convincing'........I could convince lots of people of lots of different things. But that does not make it an accurate representation of reality.
I know it's a bit 'over the edge' for current day technology to deliver, but....wouldn't you prefer that?
Quite the conversation....I'd love to continue this tangent.
Such as having multiresolution layered textures or procedural textures, and increasing the number of simultaneous voices to allow for the combination of several samples to simulate several phases in an action at different intervals/frequencies/intensities.
Very astute of you...even if by accident;)
intervals = phase of the wave
frequencies = freqency of the wave (duh)
intensities = amplitude
But, just the same...this would be 'cheating', it wouldn't be simulating real world audio dynamincs so much as attempting to mimic it. This can work very very convincingly, but it doesn't take into consideration all reflections. (ie: reflection of reflection of reflections off different surfaces (and the phase inversion that would accompany each reflection) and off of surfaces of different resonant qualities....
I think it's possible, but, not with the performance the processors of today off...and (in my not-a computer expert, but sound expert opinion) not with the type of processors we have at our disposal currently.
I'm imagining something of a grid-on-a-chip type processor.
Well...If you wanted to draw a parallel between visual and audible representation sample I don't think MIDI even comes into the picture.
In fact, MIDI would be more like a static real-time rendered visual scene.
"Textures" in video are akin to "Samples" in audio.
But much like how if you take just one very big very high quality texture and wrap it around a simple polygon figure, if you were to sample a long high quality sound it would lack the dynamism that makes it realistic.
To me the obvious next step (for video, and audio) that we are slowly moving up to (and have been for decades, piece by piece) is to have many very high quality samples/textures...and then beyond that to have variable samples/textures for specific circumstances.....but, these are all 'cheats'....
I don't think we have computers fast enough to calculate even the simplest FFT on even a minor fraction of the sounds we might hear in almost any given real-life scenario.(and their inevitable cause and effect relationship with all of the other sounds)
All wild speculation entirely my own, take with an appropriate amount of salt.
Now, I know in what context you said that, and what you mean...and I know I'm going to seem like a horrible prick, but...that just struck me as hysterical.
That's just about the 'most slashdot' quote I have ever heard.
I am now 24 years old, I was given my first computer at the age of 11, learned to start repairing it around the age of 12. by 14 I had my first dedicated BBS running 24/7 (for 5 years too). By 16 I was working in a local 'mom-n-pop' shop. at 17 I picked up a rough understanding of networking...at 18 I was an onsite network tech for a fortune 500. At 19 I was their 'Junior Engineer' (they called me an engineer, I'm a little to modest to go along with that).
At 20 years old I quit that (very) high paying job and spend the next 3 years doing consulting on and off, but I quit that too.
I love computers. It's an excellent hobby, and it it's an amazing tool. I have realize that I hate working in IT.
Funny thing was, though, that even with a good 10+ years of computer experience and an excellent exmployment history I couldn't land a job at the local stop-n-shop, mcdonalds, or...well...anywhere.
I finally got a job at FedEx making shit money, building massive amounts of muscle rapidly (between 11k and 17k lbs an hour of lifting, roughly...I could empty a full-length trailed of boxes by myself in 45 minutes or so) and also destroying my joints. I loved it. Years earlier I said "man, I bet it'd be cool to have a job where they point me to a pile of boxes and tell me to move them 'over there'." But didn't get enough hours there, so I got another job.
I quit that and have been learning a new trade working in a large screen-printing shop. I am making worse money than fedex payed, my schedule is absolutely horrible, not to mention the abundance of hazardous chemicals processes.
I love it. I haven't been this happy in years. Even though a massive amount of other things 'could be better' in my life, and quite a few hardships have acosted me in the past year.....I have never been this happy with my job. It's still a job, and I hate it based on that....but, there is just something soul-sucking about working in IT.
I don't really care to go back to 'computers' ever again. Perhaps this is just a hiatus, but I doubt it.
20 or so comments into the post and only 1 post has failed to ridicule the outfit, or curse the editors for lack of warning.
I'm sure That's the 'grown up mature thing to do'...We should applud him...
Me, on the otherhand? I'm never clicking that link ever again. And if I happen to come up with better jokes to harangue the guy with, well, You guys will hear it first.
Or am I the only one that immediately stopped viewing the pics after coming across what appeared to be Tom Smykowski (the 'jump to conclusions mat' guy) from Office space wearing what may be perhaps the tightest body suit I have ever seen...?
Is it just me, or is it very unsettling that the mastermind behind the revolution that has brought MP3, DVD and digital television into the lives of millions does not know the difference between illegal copying and theft?
I think his judgement has been more than a little skewed by money. If not the money that he's likely bribed with to support this or that, than it's in the royalties he's likely to earn from "the creator of MPEG's 'trusted' new format." As I am sure it will be just as (if not more) laden with IP protecting and profit inducing licensing terms.
Perhaps I'm just cynical...I have been alive a while.
I'm certainly not saying that quality examples of 'all-in-one' units don't exist. They definately do.
The problem appears to be (to me) that aside from 'good enough' features not being 'good enough' in this circumstance, Nokia is entering two already very established markets. The mobile phone market is undoubtedly saturated. The portable videogame market has consisted of Nintendo for over 15 years now. There is going to be a new--and very formidable--opponent entering the race soon...Sony, with the PSP. Does Nokia really think they have a chance? I would have said they did if they didn't botch the screen, game placement, design, asthetics and screen (it's worth mentioning twice it's so bad) categories.
This brings to a possible 'third market' that is tied into this between the other two--The Portable Network Gaming.
This is where I thought they owned the court...but only 3 of their titles (rudimentarily, I'd wager) support this feature.
out of all the bungles Nokia has definately made in the N-gage debacle, I'd have to say that not hyping up and delivering an impressive 'portable-network-game-system' was where the officially dropped the ball for good.
I hate to disagree with you...as what you said just seems to make sense. People want product A, and people want product B...so why not put them both together and get product C? That's sure to win over both camps, right?
Do you remember the 'all in one fax, scanner, printer, copier, modem' units that were all the rage a couple years ago?
Do you remember which of those functions it was really good at?
Probably not. 'Cuz they sucked at all of them.
Convergence devices have always promised to be a panacea. However, in reality it comes down to this:
These devices are the jack of all trades, but master of none.
I had CGA alright. I couldn't quite fathom how while it could only do 4 colors simultaneously in 320x200 and up that somehow it could do 16-colors in text mode. I understand it now, but, back then I felt like it was a conspiracy.
What about years later when you get your first EGA, or VGA (or MCGA) system?
For me it was EGA, and no display ever looked so solid and smooth to me.
I really wish system upgrades had that same 'WOW!' effect....now you have to go 5 or so years between upgrades to even get close anymore.
God, 4.77mHz up to 12mHz, now THAT was a show-stopping amazement to me.
But, yes, it will be cracked sooner or later (my bet's are on 'sooner').
That still doesn't relieve my gripes with the system. The mythical 'Joe Sixpack' isn't going to crack his phone, thus the very same 'Joe Sixpack' will not be able to play my 'untrusted' music.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, SP1 doesn't check the validity of the license. It simply denies those who have a CD key starting with "FCKGW".
I cant be the only one who got a major kick out of that every time i saw it, can I?
Depending on the deal a retailer has with a credit card company (or a merchant services company, further down the foodchain), the monthly fee and sometimes volume typically mastercard and visa take between 1-4 points (percent) for a transaction. American express and Discover cost considerably more. As far as the artists cut, it comes out of the record label's cut. I am under the (slightly informed, as Im a musician and have checked into this before.....though, its a black art at best anyhow) assumption that the band gets 10-35 cents per album.... $1 sounds awful expensive to the record labels.
I think it was rather clever of them to block slashdot refers...The site is perfectly accessable.
"This guy can't even type in a URL. What would make anyone think that he'd understand what a "403 - forbidden" error would mean?"
I recall all of my Windows apps running perfectly, if not better...though I had no dedicated DOS/Win install to directly compare it to.
What I believe did Os/2 in (aside from IBM's hamfisted marketing department)--and this is the same scenario--is that if it runs Windows apps too there is no incentive to develope native apps, 'cuz developing Windows apps means developing for Linux (then Os/2) and Windows at the same time with no added overhead to the development cycle, save for perhaps bug testing.
Though, I think Linux is in a vastly different circumstance here. I do actually think it will encourage migration--though slight. This will (very slowly) attract developers.
Remember, Linux has no bottem line to answer to. Though, perhaps the Linux community could learn a couple tips from IBM's marketing department.
Wheres the OpenMarketing initiative?
They need that...that and a OpenInterface consortium. Get the coders away from the interface.
Don't get me wrong, the console had a few good games (like Zelda), but there weren't many... just like with the GC. Metroid Prime, Resident Evil Remake, and Zelda (although I wish it was longer) were decent games, but... that's about it.
.... simplicity here I think is key. Tetris and it's ilk are what I wanna play when I have a couple minutes to kill waiting in line, on lunch break or on the bus.
;)
I'll get this out of the way now so you can calibrate my point of view: I'm a Nintendo player, and fan...not fanboy, as I agree with you on their many many blunders over the years. I swear they have their heads up their asses half the time. (The N64 cartridge debacle at the top of my list)
Every game I have rented for my GC (purchased, used, just last month...video games aren't terribly high on my list of priorities these days) has been fun...very playable. Even if the controller takes quite a bit to get used to (for each game--much like all the systems these days--but far worse)
My Ps2--which was given to me--has been relegated to my closet...aside from GTA3/ViceCity, which plays and looks far better (and is far more hackable) on my PC. The PS2 consistently amazes me with the utterly boring software available for it. Granted, there are more 'hot titles', but, per capita Nintendo's offerings are more entertaining, by far.
I was under the impression that the Ps2 handily beat the GC graphically/processor wise...yet, the GC titles appear to look far better and far more polished on average. Most of the PS2 library is garbage...IMHO, of course.
Of course, I think this is an entirely moot point. I think Nintendo and Sony are going for two entirely different (but mutually overlapping) markets here...not just the 'adolescent/young teen VS Teen/Adult' market....but functionality and price wise. Nintendo is in a position to undercut the prices for all of it's consoles signifigantly at a moments notice...Sony isn't stupid. They have a piece of far advanced technology on their hands here...Manufacturing it themselves or not, increasing efficiency in processes over time or not, Sony doesn't want to sell a bargain system. In fact, I could see them keeping the price artifically high as an attempt to effect it's percieved value and quality. (ie: their insane early-adopter prices).
Another point I feel is worth consideration is that in a portable system, most of the time (I assume, of course...this is slashdot) I doubt that people want to turn their portable game system on to pick a couple minutes off of the 40-hour full-scale video game, or view 3D worlds and characters on a minute screen
All my own speculation and opinion, of course
So far, when sony has said it's going to deliver something, they have come up with everything they said at a minimum if not more.
I was interested in your views--opposing or not--untill I read this.
Pay attention much?
The brazen, baseless and specificity lacking MS bash further reinforces the fanboyism. (and I hate MS as much as the next slashdotter, but I can tell you why...and wouldn't accuse out of context without reference.)
Nintendo will not converge, nor will they partner up.
The Playstation was supposed to be an SNES CD-ROM upgrade!
Aside from the Panasonic DVD/Gamecube player--which the states has failed to see at all--and a handfull of bombed projects Nintendo has learned it's lesson...
Besides, given it's terribly stringent licensing requirements I'd be very surprised to see a Nintendo-Portable/Cellphone, let alone a partnership with another company to develop the same.
Speculation, as usual...mine, and all of ours.
Like the multiplication tables? Hell, I could make a table of just about anything if you want to stretch it that far.
Perhaps I have a farm and want to have donkeys and rooster...but only have so much land, and each animal needs a certain amount of nutrients and space--provided by said land. How much land do I need to allocate to each?
Hot shit, I'd better consult the Donkey Tables...or would that be Rooster Tables?
Ass to Cock area tables?
In all seriousness, I could find no mention of a 'coaxial table' on google, save for a couple impedence vs. length charts...if that's what you mean by 'coaxial table', well, that sounds awful half-cocked as well.
Excellent point...and also lead me up to this one:
.... but I am not suggesting that this is the case. But if it is nobody said it'd be a conspiracy.
bombs go off and the school blows up. Then the FBI discovers that the student requested information on the tunnels but no one flagged it as unusual. What happens next? All the newspapers are filled with stories about how..........the FOIA was used to aid a terrorist. the FOIA would be under very close scrutiny by the public at large.
What chance do you think the FOIA has against the current administration? I bet that's one of the first things they'd wanna put the kaibash on.
Personally, I think that due dilligence was displayed on behalf of the FBI. They just wanted to verify and validate the intentions of the request and requester
However, another poster brought up a great point, what if--even if the request is found legitmate and innocent--there is any trace of this request and/or investigation? On credit history? On employment records? Arrest history? Housing records? Motor vehicle records?
Some may wish to don their tin-foil hats before considering this. It does sound 'out there'
Leave it up to the judgement of the people reviewing such records to screw you. It's real easy to lead a horse to water...but if you lead a thirsty horse to water, well, don't be surprised if it drinks.
I was always under the assumption--and I'm quite willing to be corrected--that HyperTransport and HyperThreading were absolutely diametrically opposed
HyperTransport was a way to virtualize multiple processors as one processor, and HyperThreading was a method to virtualize one processor as multiple processors.
Please, correct me if I'm wrong...
But, I think that AMD's way makes far more sense. Both in the realm of scalability and of pure common sense.
HyperThreading, to me, seems like a cheat catering to the maximization of legacy software operation whereas HyperTransport is a cheat catering to the maximization of hardware operation... (another point I'm willing--and eager--to be proven wrong on)
(in my view) HyperTransport puts the burden of dealing with multiple processors on the hardware, and HyperThreading puts a hardware hack in place to put the burden on the operating system...and I haven't been terribly impressed with (well, windows anyway...my primary platform, and not by choice) the SMP stuff I've dealt with....and AMD's approach seems to hit the sweet spot in this situation.
Please, if you can, clarify.
Hell, I remember seeing that quote as a tag-line inserted by users with their off-line mail readers on BBSs....in, what, 1993?
That meme has been bouncin' around the world for longer than mainstream intertnet access..
Very astute of you...even if by accident ;)
Give me a break. I have been tracking since the early 90s, and programming since I was 8. For fun I used to try to track convincing depictions of battlefields, ufo landings, explosions, etc. When I was 12 I was thinking about how to make a program I called sound stage which lets your place emitters in a 3-dimensional space that keeps track of the audio's propogation and reflections. I got bored eventially and never finished it (I guess it could've been a good thing to pursue). Lets just say, I know all about this crap :-P.
Like I said, "even if"...I, as well, have been multitracking digital for almost 15 years (though the hardware at my disposal at the time was, shall we say, lack luster)...I composed my first MOD file (no major feat, I know) at the age of 11 ('90 if I recall correctly, which I may not), my first 'album', if you will, at 14. On a daily basis I am involved in sound analysis, recording/engineering, production, mixing....etc, etc, etc. While I can only afford 24/96khz hardware currently, I upsample, work and mix to 32/192khz... and 32/256khz...Argue, if you will, about any inherent lack of reason to go above 24/44.1khz...that would certainly state what you really know about post processing and the human brain/perception. (Sorry if I sound arrogant about that, but I've been involved in far too many "but the human ear can barely hear up to 18khz so why sample over that" arguments....I'm willing to bet that you know what I'm talking about)
I'm no stranger to the analog waveform (or it's digital representation).
A simulation is obviously "cheating" (in the terms you defined...and I agree), but the simulation involved in 3D video is far far far closer to reality than any 3D audio I've encountered.
The 3D space that has been simulated so far actually attempts to recreat (aside from the visual element) actual physics, motion, etc...(though I think saying 'physics' covers everything needing mention)...real life dimensions, real life 'collision' interpretation, etc.
Admittedly, I'm not a graphics guy, or a coder, or anywhere close. My interests are focused mainly on audio...sound. So my comparisons may be a bit off.
I, personally, think that simulation is (or, ideally, should be) attempting to authentically recreat (as is technologically possibly) whatever the object is in every way shape and form...to a accurate representation of reality.
Mimicry, to me, is more along the lines of 'convincing the audience that it is real'.
I realize that for all intents and purposes to 'mimic' and to 'simulate' are just about the same basic idea.
But wouldn't you rather have a 3D aurally modeled room, down to every single reflection, phase inversion, resonant tone and frequency range taking into consideration any objects that are in the room and their and construction, as opposed to some real fancy reverb? (or, god forbid, the horrid stereo-phase-fucks that are considered '3d audio' techology on most consumer branded hardware...all of which just as easily doable in software at a minor (if noticable) processor load)
Keep in mind that I am talking about 'synthetic audible environment creation'...not 'synthetic audible environment convincing'........I could convince lots of people of lots of different things. But that does not make it an accurate representation of reality. I know it's a bit 'over the edge' for current day technology to deliver, but....wouldn't you prefer that?
Quite the conversation....I'd love to continue this tangent.
Cheerfully,
~Dan
Such as having multiresolution layered textures or procedural textures, and increasing the number of simultaneous voices to allow for the combination of several samples to simulate several phases in an action at different intervals/frequencies/intensities. Very astute of you...even if by accident ;)
intervals = phase of the wave
frequencies = freqency of the wave (duh)
intensities = amplitude
But, just the same...this would be 'cheating', it wouldn't be simulating real world audio dynamincs so much as attempting to mimic it. This can work very very convincingly, but it doesn't take into consideration all reflections. (ie: reflection of reflection of reflections off different surfaces (and the phase inversion that would accompany each reflection) and off of surfaces of different resonant qualities....
I think it's possible, but, not with the performance the processors of today off...and (in my not-a computer expert, but sound expert opinion) not with the type of processors we have at our disposal currently.
I'm imagining something of a grid-on-a-chip type processor.
Well...If you wanted to draw a parallel between visual and audible representation sample I don't think MIDI even comes into the picture.
In fact, MIDI would be more like a static real-time rendered visual scene.
"Textures" in video are akin to "Samples" in audio.
But much like how if you take just one very big very high quality texture and wrap it around a simple polygon figure, if you were to sample a long high quality sound it would lack the dynamism that makes it realistic.
To me the obvious next step (for video, and audio) that we are slowly moving up to (and have been for decades, piece by piece) is to have many very high quality samples/textures...and then beyond that to have variable samples/textures for specific circumstances.....but, these are all 'cheats'....
I don't think we have computers fast enough to calculate even the simplest FFT on even a minor fraction of the sounds we might hear in almost any given real-life scenario.(and their inevitable cause and effect relationship with all of the other sounds)
All wild speculation entirely my own, take with an appropriate amount of salt.
>Who *doesn't* want to captain a starship?
Now, I know in what context you said that, and what you mean...and I know I'm going to seem like a horrible prick, but...that just struck me as hysterical.
That's just about the 'most slashdot' quote I have ever heard.
;)
>Why would anybody want to carry a credit card 3x the size of their other cards?
I'm willing to bet it's 3 times thicker, not 3 times longer or wider.
Wow, that sounds like spam...
I have a relevant 'story'.
I am now 24 years old, I was given my first computer at the age of 11, learned to start repairing it around the age of 12. by 14 I had my first dedicated BBS running 24/7 (for 5 years too). By 16 I was working in a local 'mom-n-pop' shop. at 17 I picked up a rough understanding of networking...at 18 I was an onsite network tech for a fortune 500. At 19 I was their 'Junior Engineer' (they called me an engineer, I'm a little to modest to go along with that).
At 20 years old I quit that (very) high paying job and spend the next 3 years doing consulting on and off, but I quit that too.
I love computers. It's an excellent hobby, and it it's an amazing tool. I have realize that I hate working in IT.
Funny thing was, though, that even with a good 10+ years of computer experience and an excellent exmployment history I couldn't land a job at the local stop-n-shop, mcdonalds, or...well...anywhere.
I finally got a job at FedEx making shit money, building massive amounts of muscle rapidly (between 11k and 17k lbs an hour of lifting, roughly...I could empty a full-length trailed of boxes by myself in 45 minutes or so) and also destroying my joints. I loved it. Years earlier I said "man, I bet it'd be cool to have a job where they point me to a pile of boxes and tell me to move them 'over there'." But didn't get enough hours there, so I got another job.
I quit that and have been learning a new trade working in a large screen-printing shop. I am making worse money than fedex payed, my schedule is absolutely horrible, not to mention the abundance of hazardous chemicals processes.
I love it. I haven't been this happy in years. Even though a massive amount of other things 'could be better' in my life, and quite a few hardships have acosted me in the past year.....I have never been this happy with my job. It's still a job, and I hate it based on that....but, there is just something soul-sucking about working in IT.
I don't really care to go back to 'computers' ever again. Perhaps this is just a hiatus, but I doubt it.
20 or so comments into the post and only 1 post has failed to ridicule the outfit, or curse the editors for lack of warning.
I'm sure That's the 'grown up mature thing to do'...We should applud him...
Me, on the otherhand? I'm never clicking that link ever again. And if I happen to come up with better jokes to harangue the guy with, well, You guys will hear it first.
Or am I the only one that immediately stopped viewing the pics after coming across what appeared to be Tom Smykowski (the 'jump to conclusions mat' guy) from Office space wearing what may be perhaps the tightest body suit I have ever seen...?
Either way, those who haven't RTFA, be forwarned.
I can't believe nobody said it yet, but...
Your "70's artist I don't remember" ???
It's Rick James, Bitch.
Is it just me, or is it very unsettling that the mastermind behind the revolution that has brought MP3, DVD and digital television into the lives of millions does not know the difference between illegal copying and theft?
I think his judgement has been more than a little skewed by money. If not the money that he's likely bribed with to support this or that, than it's in the royalties he's likely to earn from "the creator of MPEG's 'trusted' new format." As I am sure it will be just as (if not more) laden with IP protecting and profit inducing licensing terms.
Perhaps I'm just cynical...I have been alive a while.
I'm certainly not saying that quality examples of 'all-in-one' units don't exist. They definately do.
The problem appears to be (to me) that aside from 'good enough' features not being 'good enough' in this circumstance, Nokia is entering two already very established markets. The mobile phone market is undoubtedly saturated. The portable videogame market has consisted of Nintendo for over 15 years now. There is going to be a new--and very formidable--opponent entering the race soon...Sony, with the PSP. Does Nokia really think they have a chance? I would have said they did if they didn't botch the screen, game placement, design, asthetics and screen (it's worth mentioning twice it's so bad) categories.
This brings to a possible 'third market' that is tied into this between the other two--The Portable Network Gaming.
This is where I thought they owned the court...but only 3 of their titles (rudimentarily, I'd wager) support this feature.
out of all the bungles Nokia has definately made in the N-gage debacle, I'd have to say that not hyping up and delivering an impressive 'portable-network-game-system' was where the officially dropped the ball for good.
Just my (not so humble) $0.02
I hate to disagree with you...as what you said just seems to make sense. People want product A, and people want product B...so why not put them both together and get product C? That's sure to win over both camps, right?
Do you remember the 'all in one fax, scanner, printer, copier, modem' units that were all the rage a couple years ago?
Do you remember which of those functions it was really good at?
Probably not. 'Cuz they sucked at all of them.
Convergence devices have always promised to be a panacea. However, in reality it comes down to this:
These devices are the jack of all trades, but master of none.
I had CGA alright. I couldn't quite fathom how while it could only do 4 colors simultaneously in 320x200 and up that somehow it could do 16-colors in text mode. I understand it now, but, back then I felt like it was a conspiracy.
What about years later when you get your first EGA, or VGA (or MCGA) system?
For me it was EGA, and no display ever looked so solid and smooth to me.
I really wish system upgrades had that same 'WOW!' effect....now you have to go 5 or so years between upgrades to even get close anymore.
God, 4.77mHz up to 12mHz, now THAT was a show-stopping amazement to me.
But, yes, it will be cracked sooner or later (my bet's are on 'sooner').
That still doesn't relieve my gripes with the system. The mythical 'Joe Sixpack' isn't going to crack his phone, thus the very same 'Joe Sixpack' will not be able to play my 'untrusted' music.