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User: pappin

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  1. Prior Art? on Apple Awarded Patent For iPhone Interface · · Score: 1

    Isn't there prior art for this stuff? I remember seeing a multi-touch interface done on Linux a few years ago and then Microsoft did one as well. What exactly does this patent cover?

  2. Prior art on Apple Awarded Patent For iPhone Interface · · Score: 1

    Wait a sec, did the Linux folks do this a few years ago with a touch screen? I remember seeing something like that, then microsoft did it as well.

  3. Re:Semantic Clarification on CBC Opens ZeD.cbc.ca Code · · Score: 1
    No, as mentioned several times already in several threads, it's a "Crown Corporation" which of course gets invested in by "The Crown".

    Quite a difference from "state-funded" as you put it, which implies non-profit or charity... I think there are several comments here that describe it very well.

  4. Re:Grabby ToS on CBC Opens ZeD.cbc.ca Code · · Score: 2, Insightful
    But isn't that the point of "Open Content"? I mean what they are really saying is that by submitting "open content" your allowing them to use it for as long as they like... which is the same rights you have when you decide to use a software product or content with a similar licence. They are just covering it from their side of the fence.

    So, why are you paranoid about it? You offer it up as open content in the first place, they are just making it official so you can't claim otherwise later!

  5. Re:Huh? on CBC Opens ZeD.cbc.ca Code · · Score: 1
    To answer your question:

    Zed is a TV show that airs content generated by You and Me. Got video editing skills, make a short film? Send it to Zed, and it will air across Canada on the CBC.

    You get a pretty wide mix of content as you would expect, but a lot of it is actually quite good.

    Think of Zed as the Gorilla Radio movement of Television it's not quite the same thing really; being a legitimate show, but they air the stuff that you'd never otherwise see - a sort of television arts show, often with a lot of political (or issue related) content.

    One other interesting thing is that so far, I've never seen much in the way of censorship on the show, although they would have to abide by Canadian Law regarding discrimination etc.

    Definitely worth catching at least once or twice.

  6. It's about time on Enthusiast Hacks WiFi Into Treo 650 · · Score: 1
    Its's about time the WiFi vendors started paying attention. AS a hardware developer its almost impossible to get anyone to give you *any* information about how to interface the hardware.

    They are all afraid of competition I suspect, but it's annyoing to try and develop a new idea only to have it squashed simply because the hardware vendor won't tell you anything.

    I think the 8nix community is having the same problem, though I havn't work on anything in particular.

    I for one, encurage anyone with the skills to put pressure on companies like Palm and the WiFi vendors to release their specs in a timely fashion!

  7. Wait one, Maybe another angle on On the Ethics of a Code Split? · · Score: 1
    If the forker was the initiator and the original copyright holder -- the forker could change the licence on the code at the this point *now* -- and continue under a "hidden code" licence. However the forker would have to leave the distributed GPL'ed code out there for the other branch to use.

    I could be very wrong here, so maybe someone could clarify the GPL on this issue.

  8. It's Open Code: Too many Cooks? on On the Ethics of a Code Split? · · Score: 1
    They are both GPL'd so I don't see there is an issue at all, this sounds to me as if there really where too many officers, and not enough enlisted men.

    A personality conflict of that sort can really cause a problem but it doesn't mean that the two can work together... they just chose not to.

    However that doesn't mean that a split is a bad thing... and I suspect that one day, if the two applications are similar enough they may get reintegrated... so IMO your just a step ahead.

    I suggest that not only do you use the code, but give clear and obvious credit to the fellow who wrote it, not just hide the note down in the source but add them to the "credits" dialog for your app.

  9. A Natural Extension on What Do People in the IT Field Do for Side Jobs? · · Score: 1

    Robotics... its a natural extension, I just love building things, and robotics combines my software experience with my love of making something concrete.

  10. It's the back of the CD that had the problem on Coating Promises Scratch-Proof CDs, DVDs, LCDs · · Score: 1
    In the case of a CDR/W its the back of the CD that has the problem.

    On most CDR/W the metal film is very close to the surface on the back side, so a small cratch will kill the CD (I'm sure everyone has noticed that they have a fairly short lifespan).

  11. The problem is wide-spread on OpenBSD Activism Shows Drivers Can Be Freed · · Score: 1
    This really is a big problem. I've tried to talk to companies like this before, in order to write drivers... all I needed was the communications spec for talking to the hardware, but *every* company I came across had their specs locked up, afraid of the competition.

    I have to say, I thought it was pretty silly; the fact of the matter is that the hardware can be made by anyone using common chips and communications with that hardware is going to be fairly similar despite hiding the specs.

    A real bummer, I'm glad to hear that they may finally be getting over the fears.

  12. $100 CDN on How Cheap Can A PC Be? · · Score: 1
    I recently built a machine for about $100 CDN. However I used old RAM and drives to do it... and a good drive is over $100; the RAM will likely set you back the same for anything worth while... anyway, but I have my doubts... however I do know you can build a 1Ghz machine including the motherboard, video, ethernet, sound, processor, case & power supply for about $100.

    I can't think where I would get drives and RAM and still stay under $100 unless they where "donated".

    I think you could take something like an XBox for example, they are essentially the same machine as the one I just built, and the retail for $200-300 CDN, which I think is going to be about right if you did it your self.

    FYI - There is quite a lot of information out there about using an XBox as a server (with Linux).

  13. Re:Take a guess.... on Greatest Equations Ever · · Score: 1

    Ahh but "1 & 1 = 1" also...

  14. Sames as going to the movies. on Photo ID Required To Buy/Rent Games In Canada · · Score: 1
    I'm all for it, although I wouldn't have been as a teenager.

    This is essentially rating the games the same way that movies are rated and has the same result.

    Is the result worth the trouble? does it work? I Don't know, but I think it's worth a try.

  15. Re:Geeks Understand Machines, Not People on Wardriving Worries Residents · · Score: 1
    Thats actually a fallacy, VCRs have the same problem, but would any of those non-tech people have bought one with less features? How about we skip the clock next time, no one knows how to set it anyway, better yet, since its our responsibility as "techies" let just preset the clock... how about GMT? so what if they are in GMT-5, at least the time is correct in Greenwich!

    My point, there is only so far you can go, before the consumer has to take responsibility for their own property.

    Could wireless security be easier? maybe but security is not a "simple" thing to begin with.
    Could the manufacturer sell the devices with the highest security enabled? Yes they could, but the consumer would be decidedly unhappy when they couldn't get the device to work and don't know why.

    Get over it, and if you can't be bothered to learn how your device (read: VCR, wireless node, Car, Phone) works, then don't go blaming me for it... I've already given you all the tools, so RTFM.

  16. Leave a node open! on Wardriving Worries Residents · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I don't know about anyone else, but I like to be able to pick up a good signal where ever I am... in fact, I leave a node open just for folks passing by. Hey, see it, use it, respect it, and it'll always be there!

  17. Control, we don't need no stinkin' control! on Open Source And Closed Standards? · · Score: 1
    "Under such a scheme Sun could maintain control of the Java API but allow open implementations."

    I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but Sun doesn't seem to do so well at "keeping control" of the core Java API...

    ... or maybe its just me who thinks the API is bloated beyond reason?

  18. Rent my bandwidth to run your software on On Moving Toward Software Rentals · · Score: 1

    So, does this mean I can ask for renumeration for the bandwidth they use while I'm using their software? I do have to pay for the bandwidth & their software after all.

  19. Re:Why is there a purple octopus on your couch? on Making Stuff Out Of Broken Computer Equipment? · · Score: 1

    English is actually made of of several languages, including French.

  20. Re:Why is there a purple octopus on your couch? on Making Stuff Out Of Broken Computer Equipment? · · Score: 1

    You know, thats the same attitude that caused you Americans to be stuck witht eh Imperial System when the rest of the world is now using the Metric system.

  21. Re:Environmental effects on Cooling Toronto Using Lake Ontario · · Score: 1
    After being used to cool the building, the water is then added to the drinking supply, so no, not any more than it might already.

    They have simply taken advantage of the cool water as it comes up from the bottom.

    In fact, this may also reduce energy consumption in my own house (I live in Toronto) because my water heater may not have to work so hard if the water is already a few degrees higher.

  22. A good idea on Online Replacements for Desktop Apps? · · Score: 1

    I for one would use such tools, but there are other options than flash... Call it a "thin-client" and such things as Java Web Start and applets come to mind.

  23. Re:Optical SETI on Should SETI Be Looking For Lasers Instead? · · Score: 1
    According to my research (though not exhaustive) laser light has the same wavelength and phase.
    However I am no expert on this and you may be correct. Do you have some material or other source that I can take a look at?

    sorry for the childish page, but you get my drift.
    http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/lasers/
    http://repairfaq.cis.upenn.edu/sam/laserfaq.htm#fa qwil

  24. Re:Optical SETI on Should SETI Be Looking For Lasers Instead? · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I don't think you get the aspects of laser light that make it visible over long distances.

    All photons in laser light have the same wavelength, and do not scatter, so they travel in the same direction over long distance.

    Light such as white light consists of light of different wavelengths that scatter in an omni directional pattern. Only part of the light reaches your eye, and the further away you go from the sources, the more gets scattered before it reaches you.

    So, you can't diffuse laser light and still have it visible over long distances, which means if your looking for it you can expect a point source and you have to be looking directly at it.

    A good SETI tool? I don't think so, but there is no harm in trying, because it definitely a possibility!

  25. Re:Not really. on Artificial Prion Created · · Score: 1

    From a laymans point of view, you just said the same thing as the fellow your flaming.