I just thought about it that this illustrates a benefit that selling Black Friday tech in low quantities at absurd prices brings--the Type A personalities that are most likely to influence people are also the types that will line up with sleeping bags at 6 PM the night before to get your goods, thus influencing others to buy at regular prices. Yet another example of prior art. However, I guess the supposed (and seemingly legit) unique aspect of MS' patent is using a social network to determine a person's influence rather than hand picking celebrities (sponsorship) or tailoring circumstances (Black Friday) or retroactive discounts (referral programs).
Yes. It takes us 5 seconds to an hour to actually come up with the fix, the remainder of the month is spent in bureaucratic hell - sitting in a trouble ticket queue, sitting in a verification queue, sitting in a QA manager's inbox, sitting with the communications team. Clearview, if it does what it says on the tin, only addresses the 5 second problem. Any "sane" dev shop would still run the resultant patch through the many cogs and loops of modern software management. You won't get your hole patched any quicker, you'll just have shifted the coders' attention away from your own app's bugs, and onto Clearview's bugs. Net gain: less than zero. Theoretically and conceptually, it's an interesting tool (you know, like Intercal). It just doesn't really fit in the industry, IMHO. [emphasis added]
You're missing the point. This isn't aimed at developers, it's aimed at end users.
The Kindle International edition was announced far before the Nook was announced. In fact, the release of the GSM Kindle was only a few days after the announcement of the Nook. So the features of the GSM Kindle were determined far before the Nook was announced. The price drop was done after the Nook was announced.
Furthermore, the article linked is only talking about the GSM Kindle in the UK. The GSM Kindle I have lets me use web surfing in the US without a problem.
Fundamentally, the issue here is not feature hobbling, it's airtime charges. At this point, Amazon seems to only be using a contract with AT&T for international roaming, which is absurdly expensive. Hopefully, Amazon will forge contracts directly with GSM providers across the globe and be able to afford to enable web surfing and book downloads without a surcharge. Right now a US-based customer can download books overseas, over-the-air for US prices, but has a $2.99 delivery surcharge because of the extra roaming charges Amazon has to pay. (Books can be downloaded to PC and loaded via USB at normal US Kindle prices.)
As it is, lifetime unlimited web surfing over US GSM & CDMA networks for the price of a device purchase is an unheard of bargain and a big profitability risk/experiment for Amazon. To do that worldwide with exorbitant roaming rates is unthinkable.
(Yes, I dislike Amazon's walled garden. Yes, I wish it was more open. Yes, I'm delighted that the Nook came out and is providing competition. But the Kindle was/is still an excellent, ground-breaking device that is setting all kinds of precedents.)
Amazon sent out an email this morning to people who bought an International Kindle (mine arrived yesterday) informing them that they had dropped the price by $20 and would be applying a $20 refund to my credit card. With this kind of customer service, I buy even my groceries from Amazon these days; no need to venture outside. I suspect that this is also fighting back against the Nook.
It's kind of poetic how stupid you come off trying to dis on the global warming people.
1. Pretty much everyone agrees that the term global warming is bad, since what is happening is global climate change, which is very real and a very big problem.
I appreciate how you raised the level of dialogue with a carefully reasoned, logical argument backed up with facts./sarcasm
I say stick to the status quo until we know we can't.
The problem with that is, what if the "oh we can't stick to the status quo" moment is actually a massive human extinction event?
The risk is that the "bullet has already been fired" so to speak. It won't hit for another 50 to 100 years, but it's on the way, and it'll cause damage when it finally does hit.
And that's ultimate irony of the most hysterical proponents of human caused global warming. They believe that we're already irreversibly doomed and that no matter what economic devastation we wreak on the developing world (read: starvation exacerbation), all we will do is the equivalent of attaching a few life vests to the Titanic. So if we were to believe and heed them, what's the point?
No, you mean du -cks * |sort -rn |head -11: Mobile: EU Commissioner Wants Standard For Mobile Phone Connectors
Ask Slashdot: Does Your Vendor Issue Gag Orders?
Your Rights Online: Pirate Bay P2P Trial Begins In Sweden
News: Spiraling Skyscraper Farms For a Future Manhattan
Linux: Microsoft and Red Hat Team Up On Virtualization
News: How Many Open Source Licenses Do You Need?
News: New York Wants To Tax Internet Downloads
Science: Earth Under Threat From Dark Comets
Technology: Nuclear Subs 'Collide In Ocean'
Your Rights Online: Facebook's New Terms of Service
So we have two basic options: pay for bigger hardware, or spend more time writing/maintaining custom code that allows us to live on our existing hardware.
Given the rapid advance of Moore's Law, when does it make sense to throw hardware at a programming problem? As a general rule, I'd say almost always. Consider the average programmer salary here in the US. You probably have several of these programmer guys or gals on staff. I can't speak to how much your servers may cost, or how many of them you may need. Or, maybe you don't need any--perhaps all your code executes on your users' hardware, which is an entirely different scenario. Obviously, situations vary. But even the most rudimentary math will tell you that it'd take a massive hardware outlay to equal the yearly costs of even a modest five person programming team.
From someone who's a published author, I expect better grammar in a book review.
That's what editors are for. In real life, good writers may be horrible at proofreading their stuff, but be excellent at connecting with their audience and expressing things in an easy to understand and entertaining way. As one of my professors said in a writing class, "Grab your readers by the eyeballs!"
(Far be it from me to criticize your Grammar Nazi ways; I'm with you the whole way. I did, however, want to take issue with that one sentence.)
Re:Chiropractic treatment worked for me
on
Trick or Treatment
·
· Score: 1
When this book/review demonizes "chiropractic... medicine", it's talking about chiropractic methods that supposedly cure, for instance, your liver or high blood pressure. It's not talking about what a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) does that demonstrably, scientifically, and certifiably puts your bones where they are supposed to be rather than where they aren't supposed to be (this is, quite obviously, a problem that needs to be fixed). The former is quite unproven by studies, while the latter is proven not only by studies, but is also shown logical by an 8th grade biology class. The former is an "off-label" use of the latter. Your injury/cure appears to have been the latter.
Re:Old aircraft carriers would work
on
The Google Navy
·
· Score: 1
I'm sure some young entrepreneur would do paraplane deliveries. At $5000-20,000, paraplanes aren't that much more than a car. At speeds of 35 mph, 12 mi offshore is 20 minutes.
Re:Isn't that bad for electronics?
on
The Google Navy
·
· Score: 1
No, citation not needed. I can think of several computer systems ruggedized for salt water spray off the top of my head. The AEGIS combat system is one of the most advanced computer systems in the world on a ship. If you remember in Red Storm Rising, in the sneak attack on Iceland, many of the Soviet SAMs' computerized guidance systems got ruined because they were the land variant instead of the ruggedized-against-salt-water naval variant. I'm sure many more examples can be found.
It's common knowledge that complex computer systems are used every day on USN, cruises, oil tankers, cargo ships, etc, etc, just like the grandparent said. It's like asking for a citation that Obama is the Dem's nominee.
The GPL also doesn't place any restrictions on how software is used. In fact, you can use GPL'd sofwtware without even agreeing to the license. You only have to agree to the GPL if you want to modify the software and then redistribute it.
I'm no expert on the subject, just a run of the mill arm-chair geek, but is the above statement true? I was under the impression that you had to agree to the GPL if you are merely an end-user.
Furthermore, on the philosophical side, I should be allowed to take the many powerful GPL command line utilities out there, write a user-friendly GUI for it, and sell it. I am adding incredible value for the end user. If someone wants the command-line utility, they are still free to download it. If someone wants a GUI that's easy to use, they can pay me for my time to develop the GUI.
Also, I take issue with those that are saying that his comment "The new lesson is that the freedom belongs to the software, not to users." is wrong. It's a very insightful comment, IMHO. I see this attitude all the time in the modern view of tolerance: everything is tolerated except intolerance; everything is tolerated except those that disagree with one important thing that I believe. Indeed, GPL v3 is not free for the users; there are significant restrictions about how it can be used. It dictates that you can't take this "free" code, add value, and resell it. That's the essence of freedom--being able to take an idea, improve it, and profit. It dictates that unrelated valuable things (patents) be handed out like candy. (Imagine the outcry if the EULA of Windows gave MS the right to send you promotional emails or required you to let them use your car whenever one of their employees is in the area.). The GPL dictates even what kinds of hardware it can be used upon. That's freedom for the agenda of the writers of the GPL, not freedom for users. That's freedom for a mythical entity called software, but not freedom for users. "The new lesson is that the freedom belongs to the software, not to users." So true.
This is not the last we have seen of Netscape. Some overzealous person or corporation will buy the brand and resurrect it with some new code under the hood. It's too well-known of a brand to go into retirement. It's simply too juicy of a target. However, resurrecting the brand will not be a good move for said overzealous corp. It would be like rebranding Blu-Ray as Betamax. Netscape reminds people of the bad old days of surfing the net at 14.4.
Slashdot Mirror
Um, I hate to break this to you, but the average IQ doesn't tell you... median... oh... um, well, nevermind.
"glenn beck is such a leader" can be taken a number of ways... ;-)
I just thought about it that this illustrates a benefit that selling Black Friday tech in low quantities at absurd prices brings--the Type A personalities that are most likely to influence people are also the types that will line up with sleeping bags at 6 PM the night before to get your goods, thus influencing others to buy at regular prices. Yet another example of prior art. However, I guess the supposed (and seemingly legit) unique aspect of MS' patent is using a social network to determine a person's influence rather than hand picking celebrities (sponsorship) or tailoring circumstances (Black Friday) or retroactive discounts (referral programs).
You're missing the point. This isn't aimed at developers, it's aimed at end users.
The Kindle International edition was announced far before the Nook was announced. In fact, the release of the GSM Kindle was only a few days after the announcement of the Nook. So the features of the GSM Kindle were determined far before the Nook was announced. The price drop was done after the Nook was announced.
Furthermore, the article linked is only talking about the GSM Kindle in the UK. The GSM Kindle I have lets me use web surfing in the US without a problem.
Fundamentally, the issue here is not feature hobbling, it's airtime charges. At this point, Amazon seems to only be using a contract with AT&T for international roaming, which is absurdly expensive. Hopefully, Amazon will forge contracts directly with GSM providers across the globe and be able to afford to enable web surfing and book downloads without a surcharge. Right now a US-based customer can download books overseas, over-the-air for US prices, but has a $2.99 delivery surcharge because of the extra roaming charges Amazon has to pay. (Books can be downloaded to PC and loaded via USB at normal US Kindle prices.)
As it is, lifetime unlimited web surfing over US GSM & CDMA networks for the price of a device purchase is an unheard of bargain and a big profitability risk/experiment for Amazon. To do that worldwide with exorbitant roaming rates is unthinkable.
(Yes, I dislike Amazon's walled garden. Yes, I wish it was more open. Yes, I'm delighted that the Nook came out and is providing competition. But the Kindle was/is still an excellent, ground-breaking device that is setting all kinds of precedents.)
Amazon sent out an email this morning to people who bought an International Kindle (mine arrived yesterday) informing them that they had dropped the price by $20 and would be applying a $20 refund to my credit card. With this kind of customer service, I buy even my groceries from Amazon these days; no need to venture outside. I suspect that this is also fighting back against the Nook.
The new ($279) international version uses AT&T 3G GSM domestically.
Wow! That's scary! People will be looking back at our insane, all-knowing prognostications and laughing at what a bunch of idiots we are.
I "discovered found" a mistake; production of this story should have been delayed because of microscopic wrinkles in the sentence structure.
It's kind of poetic how stupid you come off trying to dis on the global warming people.
1. Pretty much everyone agrees that the term global warming is bad, since what is happening is global climate change, which is very real and a very big problem.
I appreciate how you raised the level of dialogue with a carefully reasoned, logical argument backed up with facts. /sarcasm
And that's ultimate irony of the most hysterical proponents of human caused global warming. They believe that we're already irreversibly doomed and that no matter what economic devastation we wreak on the developing world (read: starvation exacerbation), all we will do is the equivalent of attaching a few life vests to the Titanic. So if we were to believe and heed them, what's the point?
No, you mean du -cks * |sort -rn |head -11:
Mobile: EU Commissioner Wants Standard For Mobile Phone Connectors
Ask Slashdot: Does Your Vendor Issue Gag Orders?
Your Rights Online: Pirate Bay P2P Trial Begins In Sweden
News: Spiraling Skyscraper Farms For a Future Manhattan
Linux: Microsoft and Red Hat Team Up On Virtualization
News: How Many Open Source Licenses Do You Need?
News: New York Wants To Tax Internet Downloads
Science: Earth Under Threat From Dark Comets
Technology: Nuclear Subs 'Collide In Ocean'
Your Rights Online: Facebook's New Terms of Service
Hardware is Cheap, Programmers are Expensive:
That's what editors are for. In real life, good writers may be horrible at proofreading their stuff, but be excellent at connecting with their audience and expressing things in an easy to understand and entertaining way. As one of my professors said in a writing class, "Grab your readers by the eyeballs!"
(Far be it from me to criticize your Grammar Nazi ways; I'm with you the whole way. I did, however, want to take issue with that one sentence.)
When this book/review demonizes "chiropractic... medicine", it's talking about chiropractic methods that supposedly cure, for instance, your liver or high blood pressure. It's not talking about what a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) does that demonstrably, scientifically, and certifiably puts your bones where they are supposed to be rather than where they aren't supposed to be (this is, quite obviously, a problem that needs to be fixed). The former is quite unproven by studies, while the latter is proven not only by studies, but is also shown logical by an 8th grade biology class. The former is an "off-label" use of the latter. Your injury/cure appears to have been the latter.
barackobama.com
*swoons*
Nothing appreciable.
I'm sure some young entrepreneur would do paraplane deliveries. At $5000-20,000, paraplanes aren't that much more than a car. At speeds of 35 mph, 12 mi offshore is 20 minutes.
No, citation not needed. I can think of several computer systems ruggedized for salt water spray off the top of my head. The AEGIS combat system is one of the most advanced computer systems in the world on a ship. If you remember in Red Storm Rising, in the sneak attack on Iceland, many of the Soviet SAMs' computerized guidance systems got ruined because they were the land variant instead of the ruggedized-against-salt-water naval variant. I'm sure many more examples can be found.
It's common knowledge that complex computer systems are used every day on USN, cruises, oil tankers, cargo ships, etc, etc, just like the grandparent said. It's like asking for a citation that Obama is the Dem's nominee.
Very recently. Notice the linksynergy links that must be used, or it won't work.
Oops, wrong thread! The above post belongs in this thread: News: There's a Sucker Converted Every Minute . "What's the best tech scam you've heard of lately?"
Thanks!
I'm no expert on the subject, just a run of the mill arm-chair geek, but is the above statement true? I was under the impression that you had to agree to the GPL if you are merely an end-user.
Furthermore, on the philosophical side, I should be allowed to take the many powerful GPL command line utilities out there, write a user-friendly GUI for it, and sell it. I am adding incredible value for the end user. If someone wants the command-line utility, they are still free to download it. If someone wants a GUI that's easy to use, they can pay me for my time to develop the GUI.
Also, I take issue with those that are saying that his comment "The new lesson is that the freedom belongs to the software, not to users." is wrong. It's a very insightful comment, IMHO. I see this attitude all the time in the modern view of tolerance: everything is tolerated except intolerance; everything is tolerated except those that disagree with one important thing that I believe. Indeed, GPL v3 is not free for the users; there are significant restrictions about how it can be used. It dictates that you can't take this "free" code, add value, and resell it. That's the essence of freedom--being able to take an idea, improve it, and profit. It dictates that unrelated valuable things (patents) be handed out like candy. (Imagine the outcry if the EULA of Windows gave MS the right to send you promotional emails or required you to let them use your car whenever one of their employees is in the area.). The GPL dictates even what kinds of hardware it can be used upon. That's freedom for the agenda of the writers of the GPL, not freedom for users. That's freedom for a mythical entity called software, but not freedom for users. "The new lesson is that the freedom belongs to the software, not to users." So true.
This is not the last we have seen of Netscape. Some overzealous person or corporation will buy the brand and resurrect it with some new code under the hood. It's too well-known of a brand to go into retirement. It's simply too juicy of a target. However, resurrecting the brand will not be a good move for said overzealous corp. It would be like rebranding Blu-Ray as Betamax. Netscape reminds people of the bad old days of surfing the net at 14.4.