I tried refilling my account several months ago and was declined on the payment. I'd used the same card earlier in the year with no problem.
So it looked like this happened quietly a bit ago and it isn't until recently that they've decided to make their decision public.
I didn't see the video, but the screenshot they're showing in the article looks like ass.
I'm studying 3d animation and a few things are okay, such as the mouth shape, the jaw, and the pressing inward cheeks. But the eyes and eyebrows are terrible. Just look how the eyebrows on the 3d model don't curve outward from the eyes, the eyes are also just the standard shapes instead of exagerated larger (lower and upper eyelids should be pulling open further). Plus where's the folds in the skin for the brow? It's also missing any musculature under the eye. Another thing is the actress' left eyebrow (right on the picture) is slightly higher than her right one, which doesn't show on the mocap screenshot.
It looks like she's saying Oh, but with no enthusiasm.
I don't know if this was a limitation of the model, but it's got a LONG ways to go to match anything done by a good animator.
For a good reference to facial animation, compair Polar Express to Golem from LOTR. Golem was traditionally animated and the Polar express characters were mo-capped. This may be a step up from polar express, but nothing beats the choices and exagerations of a good animator.
You forget that the priority of Burt Rutan and his team is safety. To take incrimental steps makes a lot more sense when you're trying to work out the logistics of systems and working towards safety.
You can't expect us to jump to orbital systems and beyond when we've barely done suborbital in the private industries. It would be the same issue if the Wright Brothers had attempted the creation of a jet before a biplane. These things take steps in order to occur.
The way Burt is approaching it does allow for future systems to be created based off of the previous generation. Just look at the transition from SpaceShipOne to SpaceShipTwo, it went from a small craft to something much more elaborate and usable in a commercial setup. It took what was existing and enlarged it, bringing along the techniques and expanding on them.
We didn't just go to the moon without first making a trip to space. There needs to be some steps in the right direction before you can jump from there.
I'm sure once we get an orbital solution for the general population we'll hear the same arguement about the moon. "Why did they do orbital, we should have shot for the moon". It's the same thing we're saying with Mars at the moment in terms of NASA.
If we're going to get it right, safe, and cheap, we better get the steps to do it smoothed out first before jumping to the next step.
"A method, performed by software executing on the processor of a portable music playback device, that automatically files tracks according to hierarchical structure of categories to organize tracks in a logical order."
It would be interesting to find out if the iPod is really figuring out the metadata and organizing the tracks or if iTunes is doing that. If it's iTunes doing all the work and the iPod is just receiving the data, then that part of the patent wouldn't apply to the iPod.
Several weeks ago I recieved a new Wells Fargo debit card sent to me overnight shipped through FedEx. I thought it was odd because typically it takes Wells Fargo several weeks to get you a new card, yet here was this new one overnighted.
I heard on the news later that week that a Sacramento based OfficeMax had gotten their atm records stolen. I had shopped at OfficeMax in that area a few weeks before.
If it's not in iTunes, it doesn't exist to me
on
iTunes Might Lose Labels
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
iTunes is becoming like Walmart for a lot of people, if they don't carry the album, people don't realize it's available.
I've stopped shopping at brick and mortar shops entirely for music, and the comment holds true for me. The other problem with CDs now is many are getting copy protection schemes that are far more troublesome (ie: Sony). With CDs it's becoming a crapshoot, at least with iTunes I know what I'm getting, my restrictions, and a way to get around them if needed.
If a major music company leaves because of their pricing greed, they'll soon realize they have nowhere reasonable to peddle their goods online, especially as more and more customers start purchasing music online.
Slashdot Mirror
I tried refilling my account several months ago and was declined on the payment. I'd used the same card earlier in the year with no problem. So it looked like this happened quietly a bit ago and it isn't until recently that they've decided to make their decision public.
I didn't see the video, but the screenshot they're showing in the article looks like ass. I'm studying 3d animation and a few things are okay, such as the mouth shape, the jaw, and the pressing inward cheeks. But the eyes and eyebrows are terrible. Just look how the eyebrows on the 3d model don't curve outward from the eyes, the eyes are also just the standard shapes instead of exagerated larger (lower and upper eyelids should be pulling open further). Plus where's the folds in the skin for the brow? It's also missing any musculature under the eye. Another thing is the actress' left eyebrow (right on the picture) is slightly higher than her right one, which doesn't show on the mocap screenshot. It looks like she's saying Oh, but with no enthusiasm. I don't know if this was a limitation of the model, but it's got a LONG ways to go to match anything done by a good animator. For a good reference to facial animation, compair Polar Express to Golem from LOTR. Golem was traditionally animated and the Polar express characters were mo-capped. This may be a step up from polar express, but nothing beats the choices and exagerations of a good animator.
You forget that the priority of Burt Rutan and his team is safety. To take incrimental steps makes a lot more sense when you're trying to work out the logistics of systems and working towards safety.
You can't expect us to jump to orbital systems and beyond when we've barely done suborbital in the private industries. It would be the same issue if the Wright Brothers had attempted the creation of a jet before a biplane. These things take steps in order to occur.
The way Burt is approaching it does allow for future systems to be created based off of the previous generation. Just look at the transition from SpaceShipOne to SpaceShipTwo, it went from a small craft to something much more elaborate and usable in a commercial setup. It took what was existing and enlarged it, bringing along the techniques and expanding on them.
We didn't just go to the moon without first making a trip to space. There needs to be some steps in the right direction before you can jump from there.
I'm sure once we get an orbital solution for the general population we'll hear the same arguement about the moon. "Why did they do orbital, we should have shot for the moon". It's the same thing we're saying with Mars at the moment in terms of NASA.
If we're going to get it right, safe, and cheap, we better get the steps to do it smoothed out first before jumping to the next step.
"A method, performed by software executing on the processor of a portable music playback device, that automatically files tracks according to hierarchical structure of categories to organize tracks in a logical order."
It would be interesting to find out if the iPod is really figuring out the metadata and organizing the tracks or if iTunes is doing that. If it's iTunes doing all the work and the iPod is just receiving the data, then that part of the patent wouldn't apply to the iPod.
Several weeks ago I recieved a new Wells Fargo debit card sent to me overnight shipped through FedEx. I thought it was odd because typically it takes Wells Fargo several weeks to get you a new card, yet here was this new one overnighted. I heard on the news later that week that a Sacramento based OfficeMax had gotten their atm records stolen. I had shopped at OfficeMax in that area a few weeks before.
iTunes is becoming like Walmart for a lot of people, if they don't carry the album, people don't realize it's available.
I've stopped shopping at brick and mortar shops entirely for music, and the comment holds true for me. The other problem with CDs now is many are getting copy protection schemes that are far more troublesome (ie: Sony). With CDs it's becoming a crapshoot, at least with iTunes I know what I'm getting, my restrictions, and a way to get around them if needed.
If a major music company leaves because of their pricing greed, they'll soon realize they have nowhere reasonable to peddle their goods online, especially as more and more customers start purchasing music online.
Who knows when I'll finish editing it though.. but I'll post the torrent along with photos.