Someone gets it! It apparently hasn't become very clear to people that getting a patent affords you very little benefit. The patent is only worth something if it can be used to protect an idea. And even further, that only applies when the company is even interested in using it.
As a fellow commuter in Chicago, I've noticed that the trains rarely have opportunities to reach anything near top speed. This is limited by restrictions at street level crossings and generally limited by the short distance between stops. There are probably some express trains from Aurora, Geneva, etc. that could probably benefit from an increased speed, but my guess is that it is poor tracks and street-level crossings that hold back these trains more than technology advances in speed. I don't disagree that faster trains would be nice, I just don't think that they are very practical in this area. Besides, as you said, the commuter trains are generally decent places to get work done. During rush hours most people are very respectful of others and its a quiet environment to do whatever you please. There is something to relinquishing all control. Once you are on the train you know that nothing you do or don't do will affect the time that you arrive.
On a related note, I'd love to stand on a platform as a 150-200mph express train buzzed past!
Microsoft takes cool stuff, dumbs it down, and makes it avaiable to everyone else. This is what has made them so popular. People who understand the cool stuff in the raw form are the minority (changing slowly). Microsofts power is directly proportional to the average person's lack of computational understanding and the lack of developer's understanding of the average person's lack of computational understanding. Microsoft can take the developers stuff that is cool but hard to use, simplify it, and distribute with marketing power behind it.
I'm pretty sure that this all fits nicely in your list. Instead of complaining about it, its time that people realize (and they are) that you can't just release the most powerful software and expect people to figure out how to use it.
If you read claim 1 carefully you will see why this is not enough prior art. The claim speaks exactly of how the iTunes interface functions. Displaying a list of fields (artist, album, genre). Selecting an item from one of the fields (i.e., artist). Then redisplaying all fields with information that pertains to that selection. i.e., all genres of music for that artist and all albums for that artist. Then selecting a song and playing it.
Your source does not go into enough detail to know, but I doubt that the Jukebox functioned in that specific manner.
Yeah, I think the attraction is similar to when people drive by a bad car accident and can't stop staring. I know that I'm not going to see anything good, but I come back to read the comments and throw out a few posts anyway. Its the innate desire to see the "carnage."
Nice to see I'm not alone in realizing that people on Slashdot are patent clueless.
In retrospect I agree that the example wasn't all that great. But it was meant to prove a point that I think was understood. I.E., non-obvious and non-trivial are not the same thing in the legal/patent office sense.
That patent got some good laughs around the office!!
As an update, it appears that once news got out about that patent, the Commissioner of patents requested a re-examination and the patent was killed (all claims were cancelled). So, its pretty apparent that the initial examiner was a moron, but the system did eventually "work." This is really how the system is setup right now: getting a patent is easier than using a patent. What it generally leads to is craziness over some badly issued patents, but in the end its just a waste of some guy's money because he won't be able to use that patent without getting hammered by his opponent.
Trivial has nothing to do with it. The requirements that you are thinking of are NOVEL and NON-OBVIOUS. New and novel are similar, though technically not the same. However, non-trivial and non-obvious are very different in the legal sense. Something may be trivial, but non-obvious. For example, a hole punch is a pretty trivial thing to make. Its simply a cylinder that presses into a hole. But before the first hole punch was made, it was certainly not obvious to make a hole punch.
You generally do not have a right to privacy as against a private entity. There are imposed laws against some things: I would imagine mandatory strip searches would not be allowed. But, especially because you are utilizing company equipment to transmit the email messages, you have no right to privacy for electronic mail messages sent from work.
Well, I'm using MS Office on a 512 MB P4 2.4 Ghz with spelling and thesauraus enabled. But I guess I'm using a small document, so I can see where that would be a problem. I guess I just won't write anything that long.:-)
I'd like to see that typist. As fast as I can mash the keyboard the letters are appearing on my screen. Do I have a faster computer than everyone else?
I agree, the match/lighter thing is a bit absurd as far as checked baggage goes. I'm not sure that I think people should be allowed to carry lighters and matches on planes.
The fact of the matter is that most of the items on the list are there because the freedom to carry those things on has been abused. If you think that airlines play no part in what goes on that list, you are the delirious one. If we opened up the gates and let anyone hop on a plane, do you really think that people would feel safe flying? People are scared enough already.
I agree with you that the document explicitly states that the ultimate decision is at the screener's descretion and I'm just telling you that I have carried a nail clippers on many many flights and have yet to have one security agent even flinch. Everytime I have asked the TSA agent has told me it is a non-issue, without even looking at the clippers to determine if they are some specially made dangerous clippers.
Finally, as to the use of a UID. The difference between posting with a UID and posting as Anonymous Coward is that it is apparent that I'm the same person posting to you each time. For all I know, each time that "you've" posted, it has been a different person. I'm guessing thats not that case here, but there is certainly a difference between posting as AC and posting with an account. I've had the account for about a year, not that I understand why that would have any bearing on the price of tea in china (I've always wanted to fit that into a conversation).
I agree, two years ago the policy was absurd and maybe still is, but there is no argument that it isn't better. However, no screener is going to argue with you that a regular nail clippers is dangerous.
Ohhh, a good jab from anonymous about my age. I have yet to have someone tell me I can't take nail clippers on board. When asked whether I have anything that is sharp that might be considered a weapon, I have specifically said nail clippers and each time I've been told that they are fine. Additionally, I've left my shoes on plenty of times because I know that they do not set the detectors off (not all shoes have metal soles). I've yet to have any personal searches or any probes.
Finally, that isn't just some random good list. That is the list from the TSA and it does carry weight. I'm not saying that I'm an expert, I'm telling you what the TSA's official position is, which matches what I've been told on countless occassions.
If you're challenged with items that are on the lsit, why don't you stop being such a child and push the subject a little if you are such a freedom minded person. Or is it that you have the guts to bitch and moan about your rights but aren't capable of doing anything about it. Sure, jump up and start screamin and people are gonna get pissed. But if you talk to officials in a friendly manner they will be friendly back. Your comments are based on rumors and I highly doubt you've ever had anything mentioned above confiscated from you. *Waits for explanation of how anonymous coward actually owns an airline and flies everyday to and from work...
Under what law? Common carriers have a different set of rights and responsbilities from others, but I don't recall them losing the right to stop you from bringing a bomb on board.
Even if the surface of the lake is frozen, the depths of the lake generally do not freeze...i.e., they aren't as cold as the freezing air because the surface ice acts as an insulator.
The messenger problem is taken care of with that new tool that they were forced to include. The name escapes me but its the program that lets you choose whether you want to use Microsoft products for things like web browser, instant messaging, etc. It is actually quite effective at removing messenger.
Slashdot Mirror
If you aren't going to pay to have it fixed, then what do you have to lose. http://www.digikey.com/ Pick up a couple caps and go to town!
Thank you!!
Thank you!!
Someone gets it! It apparently hasn't become very clear to people that getting a patent affords you very little benefit. The patent is only worth something if it can be used to protect an idea. And even further, that only applies when the company is even interested in using it.
On a related note, I'd love to stand on a platform as a 150-200mph express train buzzed past!
I'm pretty sure that this all fits nicely in your list. Instead of complaining about it, its time that people realize (and they are) that you can't just release the most powerful software and expect people to figure out how to use it.
Your source does not go into enough detail to know, but I doubt that the Jukebox functioned in that specific manner.
Nice to see I'm not alone in realizing that people on Slashdot are patent clueless.
In retrospect I agree that the example wasn't all that great. But it was meant to prove a point that I think was understood. I.E., non-obvious and non-trivial are not the same thing in the legal/patent office sense.
As an update, it appears that once news got out about that patent, the Commissioner of patents requested a re-examination and the patent was killed (all claims were cancelled). So, its pretty apparent that the initial examiner was a moron, but the system did eventually "work." This is really how the system is setup right now: getting a patent is easier than using a patent. What it generally leads to is craziness over some badly issued patents, but in the end its just a waste of some guy's money because he won't be able to use that patent without getting hammered by his opponent.
Oh, and IANALY (YET). I've got 3 years of evening classes to go...
Trivial has nothing to do with it. The requirements that you are thinking of are NOVEL and NON-OBVIOUS. New and novel are similar, though technically not the same. However, non-trivial and non-obvious are very different in the legal sense. Something may be trivial, but non-obvious. For example, a hole punch is a pretty trivial thing to make. Its simply a cylinder that presses into a hole. But before the first hole punch was made, it was certainly not obvious to make a hole punch.
Submarine patent = dead
I wasn't stating the way that it I think it should be, just the way that it is...
You generally do not have a right to privacy as against a private entity. There are imposed laws against some things: I would imagine mandatory strip searches would not be allowed. But, especially because you are utilizing company equipment to transmit the email messages, you have no right to privacy for electronic mail messages sent from work.
Well, I'm using MS Office on a 512 MB P4 2.4 Ghz with spelling and thesauraus enabled. But I guess I'm using a small document, so I can see where that would be a problem. I guess I just won't write anything that long. :-)
I'd like to see that typist. As fast as I can mash the keyboard the letters are appearing on my screen. Do I have a faster computer than everyone else?
Because submarine patents don't exist anymore...
The US is a republic, not a democracy.
I agree, the match/lighter thing is a bit absurd as far as checked baggage goes. I'm not sure that I think people should be allowed to carry lighters and matches on planes.
The fact of the matter is that most of the items on the list are there because the freedom to carry those things on has been abused. If you think that airlines play no part in what goes on that list, you are the delirious one. If we opened up the gates and let anyone hop on a plane, do you really think that people would feel safe flying? People are scared enough already.
I agree with you that the document explicitly states that the ultimate decision is at the screener's descretion and I'm just telling you that I have carried a nail clippers on many many flights and have yet to have one security agent even flinch. Everytime I have asked the TSA agent has told me it is a non-issue, without even looking at the clippers to determine if they are some specially made dangerous clippers.
Finally, as to the use of a UID. The difference between posting with a UID and posting as Anonymous Coward is that it is apparent that I'm the same person posting to you each time. For all I know, each time that "you've" posted, it has been a different person. I'm guessing thats not that case here, but there is certainly a difference between posting as AC and posting with an account. I've had the account for about a year, not that I understand why that would have any bearing on the price of tea in china (I've always wanted to fit that into a conversation).
At least I have women for corrupt'n...
I agree, two years ago the policy was absurd and maybe still is, but there is no argument that it isn't better. However, no screener is going to argue with you that a regular nail clippers is dangerous.
Yeah, there was a short period after 9/11 where they went super crazy. People complained and said it was stupid and they eased up a bit.
Finally, that isn't just some random good list. That is the list from the TSA and it does carry weight. I'm not saying that I'm an expert, I'm telling you what the TSA's official position is, which matches what I've been told on countless occassions.
If you're challenged with items that are on the lsit, why don't you stop being such a child and push the subject a little if you are such a freedom minded person. Or is it that you have the guts to bitch and moan about your rights but aren't capable of doing anything about it. Sure, jump up and start screamin and people are gonna get pissed. But if you talk to officials in a friendly manner they will be friendly back. Your comments are based on rumors and I highly doubt you've ever had anything mentioned above confiscated from you. *Waits for explanation of how anonymous coward actually owns an airline and flies everyday to and from work...
Under what law? Common carriers have a different set of rights and responsbilities from others, but I don't recall them losing the right to stop you from bringing a bomb on board.
Nail clippers are not confiscated, thanks for playing... Here's the list in case you were wondering: http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted _Prohibited_5_16_2005_v3.pdf
Even if the surface of the lake is frozen, the depths of the lake generally do not freeze...i.e., they aren't as cold as the freezing air because the surface ice acts as an insulator.
The messenger problem is taken care of with that new tool that they were forced to include. The name escapes me but its the program that lets you choose whether you want to use Microsoft products for things like web browser, instant messaging, etc. It is actually quite effective at removing messenger.