While I'm disappointed that they're distributing DRM'ed WMA files (non-Windows users will certainly be out of luck), I don't want to be too quick to dismiss this. Any distribution channel that gives the artist 50% of the sale is already better than almost anything else out there.
Can anyone think of a better system that gives the artist this much or more of the sale?
This article is exactly what I need to explain open source to my dad, a lawyer. It's especially difficult getting the concepts behind open source across to him now that I'm writing open source code (BSD license, no less) for a *living*.
Thanks again, Groklaw. It's so wonderful having some lawyers on *our* side!
Personally, I think the days of selling general-purpose computers to home users are coming to a close. Within a few years, real computers will be limited to businesses and hobbyists (those who use computers for their hobbies, and those for whom computers *are* a hobby).
"Joe Sixpack" will surf the net on an "Internet Center", listen to MP3s (or whatever DRM-crippled crap has replaced it) on "Media Center", etc. Regular people will stop thinking of these things as computers, and they'll just be happy that they work. To be honest, I don't know what to think of this. If Apple has survived in its niche, I'll still be able to get the stuff I need (heck, *somebody* will make sure that Linux can still run on these devices), but it's a little sad to think that this era might come to an end.
What's really striking about the pictures from the rover is how red they're not. Apparently, the color calibration disk/marsdial is doing it's intended job!
No matter how many space missions are made, this stuff still puts me in awe. I know that quite a few NASA guys lurk on/., and all I can say is: good work!
The site is sluggish already (darn subscribers), any chance of getting a torrent? I've already grabbed the files, I'll be glad to send them to anybody with a static IP willing to set up a tracker.
This looks like a lot of fun, though. Big thanks to the folks on the Maestro Team!
Why should I shell out $15,000 for something that's an order of magnitude more expensive than the sytem I've built myself?
I built a MythTV system (using a hacked XBox as a frontend!) with a USB webcam for videoconferencing on my TV for less than $2000. It can do everything the Pluto adverises except home automation, but some X10 devices would take care of that.
This is a perfect toy for the busy executive who loves using the latest technology but doesn't understand it -- not for us able Linux lovers on slashdot!
Slashdot Mirror
While I'm disappointed that they're distributing DRM'ed WMA files (non-Windows users will certainly be out of luck), I don't want to be too quick to dismiss this. Any distribution channel that gives the artist 50% of the sale is already better than almost anything else out there.
Can anyone think of a better system that gives the artist this much or more of the sale?
This article is exactly what I need to explain open source to my dad, a lawyer. It's especially difficult getting the concepts behind open source across to him now that I'm writing open source code (BSD license, no less) for a *living*.
Thanks again, Groklaw. It's so wonderful having some lawyers on *our* side!
Personally, I think the days of selling general-purpose computers to home users are coming to a close. Within a few years, real computers will be limited to businesses and hobbyists (those who use computers for their hobbies, and those for whom computers *are* a hobby).
"Joe Sixpack" will surf the net on an "Internet Center", listen to MP3s (or whatever DRM-crippled crap has replaced it) on "Media Center", etc. Regular people will stop thinking of these things as computers, and they'll just be happy that they work. To be honest, I don't know what to think of this. If Apple has survived in its niche, I'll still be able to get the stuff I need (heck, *somebody* will make sure that Linux can still run on these devices), but it's a little sad to think that this era might come to an end.
What's really striking about the pictures from the rover is how red they're not. Apparently, the color calibration disk/marsdial is doing it's intended job!
No matter how many space missions are made, this stuff still puts me in awe. I know that quite a few NASA guys lurk on /., and all I can say is: good work!
Linux torrent (since the mirror seems to be bogus) here.
The site is sluggish already (darn subscribers), any chance of getting a torrent? I've already grabbed the files, I'll be glad to send them to anybody with a static IP willing to set up a tracker.
This looks like a lot of fun, though. Big thanks to the folks on the Maestro Team!
Sorry -- I usually RTFA, but not I only skim the press releases.
I built a MythTV system (using a hacked XBox as a frontend!) with a USB webcam for videoconferencing on my TV for less than $2000. It can do everything the Pluto adverises except home automation, but some X10 devices would take care of that.
This is a perfect toy for the busy executive who loves using the latest technology but doesn't understand it -- not for us able Linux lovers on slashdot!