The ability for students to market their music online easily is something other music services don't offer.
Actually, when Napster made a deal with the University of Rochester, part of that deal was to allow UR students, like those at the Eastman School of Music, to add their own music to the service to be shared within the university. I'm not sure if many people did this and I'm not sure if the music was also available to everyone who uses Napster or just the UR campus service.
Anyway, Napster has proven to be quite popular at UR. What's interesting, though, is what happens when someone finds music they like: 70% purchase the song through iTunes, even though it's possible and cheaper to purchase it through Napster. I think this says a lot about the popularity of iTunes. In fact, it seems reasonable to say that colleges offering streaming or tethered download based services are actually increasing the use of iTunes.
Personally, I second the suggestion of Drupal; while it would probably take a bit of time to get it to do what you want, it's extremely customizable and once you get used to it, it's very easy to use. Plus, it's free.
I was googling and just came across this SlimServer plugin that claims to be able to add support for RealAudio streams to SlimServer. Haven't tried it, but it looks promising.
I would also recommend SlimServer...and I'm not a Slim employee!
I've been using SlimServer for at least 6 months now and I absolutely love it. I have it installed on one of my spare linux servers and can access my entire music library anywhere that has internet access and an mp3 player (I'm currently away for the Holidays and as I'm typing this very message I'm listening to my music stored hundreds of miles away). However, the beauty of it is that it should be able to do exactly what you want: it can connect to internet streams and do conversion on the fly. There are also a number of plugins available (for example, here)
I should mention that I only use their software, SlimServer (which is free), and not their hardware unit, SqueezeBox. This is not because I'm a cheap bastard, but because I'm a college student living in a dorm room...you can't *not* be next to your computer in a dorm, so I have no use for something like SqueezeBox. However, once I move out next year, one of my first pruchases will be a SqueezeBox.
I've been using Protable Firefox for the past few weeks. This with the addition of the Bookmark Synchronizer Extension, this makes sure I always have my favorite browser and all of my bookmarks with me at all times.
I got bored while driving 9 hours yesterday, started flipping through the radio stations, fell upon Rush, and decided, "What the heck...can't find anything else to listen to." What I heard (before I decided to stop being masochistic) was him ranting about exactly what your post was about...well, that and explaining how you should charge all of your liberal friends a fee in order to eat Thanksgiving Dinner...
I've read a thousand articles on 'linux, the new OS for the Desktop' articles in various local papers. However, I don't know any 'normal' person who has adopted it.
Are you seriously comparing the adoption of Firefox to the adoption of Linux? Come on...Firefox is a ~5 MB download that takes about a minute to install on any of the major OSes; to try Firefox the user doesn't have to delete or migrate a single bit of data from their computer. If they don't like Firefox they can either just ignore it and use IE or they can completely delete it from their computer without having to restore anything.
I can install normal CD on many computer as I want, and only play on the one I have the physical CD. No change either here.
I completely agree that a non-DRMed application is much better for the user than a DRMed one; I even said as much in the grandparent post. But compare this to another DRM method, like the Microsoft Windows authentication. You're only allowed a set number of installs and after that, your activation code is no longer valid; with this method you don't even have to wait 5 years for the activation server to go down...even with a CD in hand, you still have a coaster. Steam, on the otherhand, allows for unlimited installs. Seeing as how I have already used all of my reinstalls for Windows and since I doubt it's likely for the Steam authentication servers to disappear off the map before Valve makes the game freely available to the public, I much prefer the Steam method over, say, the Microsoft method.
As for the modem speed...I even qualified my comment to which you refer as only applying to people with high-speed connections; others can still bye the game on CDs.
I'm not claiming Steam is perfect or a godsend, but I do think that overall it is much better than most other DRM authentication methods.
Since in every HL2/Steam/Valve thread on Slashdot Steam seems to get blown out of proportion, let's take a moment to review some of the good qualities of Steam:
Steam allows automatic patching, so once a bug is found and fixed, it can be applied immediately; no more having to search for patches.
You can install the games on as many computers as you want; you just can't play them on more than one computer at a time.
Steam allows for a delivery system that I think most people (those who have high-speed internet connections, anyway) would agree is much more convenient than having to buy CDs from a store and then having to make sure that you don't lose or damage the CDs.
And the most important of all (that so many people seem to overlook or forget): After activation, you do not have to be connected to internet to play the Steam-based games; just start Steam in off-line mode.
I'm sure there are more.
Look, I hate DRM controls as much as the next guy, but I realize that many software companies feel that they need to use such measures to try to make sure that they get rewarded for their work. All that I'm saying is that of all of the DRM/activation systems I've encountered, Steam seems to be the least intrusive and most flexible...and it has a few added benefits for the users as well (i.e. instant patches).
"I don't see a slippery slope," she said, "because the technology to do reproductive cloning in mammals is there, and I don't think that anything we do is going to significantly change the development of that technology. What stops it is that the law says we can't do it, and it's banned."
Preventing cloning of embryos for stem cell research does not in any way help prevent human cloning, it only prevents science and medicine from progressing. The technology is there -- we can't change that -- but what we can do is use it to save lives.
I would highly recommend NOT using spews...they don't keep their records up-to-date, causing their list to be quite inaccurate. At one point, SPEWS even blacklisted the entire internet because there was a DDOS attack against one of their servers
Most uni students don't even use their supplied email addresses, and they are usually only used as a redundant means of sending out marks.
At my university virtually everyone uses the university's email addresses. Also, along with email student accounts are also associated with Web and FTP space, as well as some applications (grades, scheduling, etc.). Because almost all students have quite a bit of private information associated with their accounts, the university has taken quite a few steps to make it secure: mandatory 30-day password changes, enforced password strength, no Telnet (SSH only), etc. Actually, security is about the only thing that my university's IT department seems to be at least moderately skilled in.
Slashdot Mirror
The Google Talk client is now available at http://www.google.com/talk/. Unfortunately, it's Windows-only.
The ability for students to market their music online easily is something other music services don't offer.
Actually, when Napster made a deal with the University of Rochester, part of that deal was to allow UR students, like those at the Eastman School of Music, to add their own music to the service to be shared within the university. I'm not sure if many people did this and I'm not sure if the music was also available to everyone who uses Napster or just the UR campus service.
Anyway, Napster has proven to be quite popular at UR. What's interesting, though, is what happens when someone finds music they like: 70% purchase the song through iTunes, even though it's possible and cheaper to purchase it through Napster. I think this says a lot about the popularity of iTunes. In fact, it seems reasonable to say that colleges offering streaming or tethered download based services are actually increasing the use of iTunes.
My college's newspaper uses College Publisher. However, I know absolutely nothing about it, including how much it costs.
Personally, I second the suggestion of Drupal; while it would probably take a bit of time to get it to do what you want, it's extremely customizable and once you get used to it, it's very easy to use. Plus, it's free.
I was googling and just came across this SlimServer plugin that claims to be able to add support for RealAudio streams to SlimServer. Haven't tried it, but it looks promising.
I would also recommend SlimServer...and I'm not a Slim employee!
I've been using SlimServer for at least 6 months now and I absolutely love it. I have it installed on one of my spare linux servers and can access my entire music library anywhere that has internet access and an mp3 player (I'm currently away for the Holidays and as I'm typing this very message I'm listening to my music stored hundreds of miles away). However, the beauty of it is that it should be able to do exactly what you want: it can connect to internet streams and do conversion on the fly. There are also a number of plugins available (for example, here)
I should mention that I only use their software, SlimServer (which is free), and not their hardware unit, SqueezeBox. This is not because I'm a cheap bastard, but because I'm a college student living in a dorm room...you can't *not* be next to your computer in a dorm, so I have no use for something like SqueezeBox. However, once I move out next year, one of my first pruchases will be a SqueezeBox.
I've been using Protable Firefox for the past few weeks. This with the addition of the Bookmark Synchronizer Extension, this makes sure I always have my favorite browser and all of my bookmarks with me at all times.
The error message from the server: Server Error in '/' Application.
I think they forgot the '.'
Dittohead...You've been listening to Rush Limbaugh, haven't you?
I got bored while driving 9 hours yesterday, started flipping through the radio stations, fell upon Rush, and decided, "What the heck...can't find anything else to listen to." What I heard (before I decided to stop being masochistic) was him ranting about exactly what your post was about...well, that and explaining how you should charge all of your liberal friends a fee in order to eat Thanksgiving Dinner...
Thanks for this! I can't believe that I either didn't notice this before or that Google doesn't make this more visible.
I've read a thousand articles on 'linux, the new OS for the Desktop' articles in various local papers. However, I don't know any 'normal' person who has adopted it.
Are you seriously comparing the adoption of Firefox to the adoption of Linux? Come on...Firefox is a ~5 MB download that takes about a minute to install on any of the major OSes; to try Firefox the user doesn't have to delete or migrate a single bit of data from their computer. If they don't like Firefox they can either just ignore it and use IE or they can completely delete it from their computer without having to restore anything.
How is this in any way similar to linux?
Let's compare apples to apples here...
I can install normal CD on many computer as I want, and only play on the one I have the physical CD. No change either here.
I completely agree that a non-DRMed application is much better for the user than a DRMed one; I even said as much in the grandparent post. But compare this to another DRM method, like the Microsoft Windows authentication. You're only allowed a set number of installs and after that, your activation code is no longer valid; with this method you don't even have to wait 5 years for the activation server to go down...even with a CD in hand, you still have a coaster. Steam, on the otherhand, allows for unlimited installs. Seeing as how I have already used all of my reinstalls for Windows and since I doubt it's likely for the Steam authentication servers to disappear off the map before Valve makes the game freely available to the public, I much prefer the Steam method over, say, the Microsoft method.
As for the modem speed...I even qualified my comment to which you refer as only applying to people with high-speed connections; others can still bye the game on CDs.
I'm not claiming Steam is perfect or a godsend, but I do think that overall it is much better than most other DRM authentication methods.
RTFA...IMSmarter is free too.
- Steam allows automatic patching, so once a bug is found and fixed, it can be applied immediately; no more having to search for patches.
- You can install the games on as many computers as you want; you just can't play them on more than one computer at a time.
- Steam allows for a delivery system that I think most people (those who have high-speed internet connections, anyway) would agree is much more convenient than having to buy CDs from a store and then having to make sure that you don't lose or damage the CDs.
- And the most important of all (that so many people seem to overlook or forget): After activation, you do not have to be connected to internet to play the Steam-based games; just start Steam in off-line mode.
I'm sure there are more.Look, I hate DRM controls as much as the next guy, but I realize that many software companies feel that they need to use such measures to try to make sure that they get rewarded for their work. All that I'm saying is that of all of the DRM/activation systems I've encountered, Steam seems to be the least intrusive and most flexible...and it has a few added benefits for the users as well (i.e. instant patches).
Yeah, I clicked on the link, saw the word "expired" and about fainted thinking that the "Microsoft" trademark expired.
Did anyone else read that as 'NO CAREER'?
I guess if you're an AOL Employee, that could also be a new slogan.
3) No cities are on fire
Actually, that's not true.
With such a professional-looking website I can't see how this can possibly go wrong.
I think that a British doctor put it best in a recent New York Times article about cloning embryos for stem cell research:
"I don't see a slippery slope," she said, "because the technology to do reproductive cloning in mammals is there, and I don't think that anything we do is going to significantly change the development of that technology. What stops it is that the law says we can't do it, and it's banned."
Preventing cloning of embryos for stem cell research does not in any way help prevent human cloning, it only prevents science and medicine from progressing. The technology is there -- we can't change that -- but what we can do is use it to save lives.
...they just can't use federal money to fund it.
(I've never heard of a class-action libel or slander suit. Is there a lawyer in the house who could describe if that's possible?)
Here ya go.
I would highly recommend NOT using spews...they don't keep their records up-to-date, causing their list to be quite inaccurate. At one point, SPEWS even blacklisted the entire internet because there was a DDOS attack against one of their servers
There was a patch?
Most uni students don't even use their supplied email addresses, and they are usually only used as a redundant means of sending out marks.
At my university virtually everyone uses the university's email addresses. Also, along with email student accounts are also associated with Web and FTP space, as well as some applications (grades, scheduling, etc.). Because almost all students have quite a bit of private information associated with their accounts, the university has taken quite a few steps to make it secure: mandatory 30-day password changes, enforced password strength, no Telnet (SSH only), etc. Actually, security is about the only thing that my university's IT department seems to be at least moderately skilled in.