Some people only have 2 USB ports. They need them both already, and they sure as hell aren't going to buy a hub just for copy prevention. For some people, it's the principle that matters. Others are really annoyed by it.
So, you can d/l a crack, and no more dongles, cds, or on-line registrations for you.
Obivously, as long as these copy prevention schemes exist, these cracks will be available. But if cracks are available, people will still pirate games instead of paying. And if piracy exists, you can always blame your last game's failure on it (instead of admitting it was shit). And to protect your declining sales, you add more copy prevention schemes.
Giving a whole new meaning
on
Semper WiFi
·
· Score: 5, Funny
to War Driving...
Is that... Wi-Fi?
on
Semper WiFi
·
· Score: 3, Funny
Just like Adblock: parsing all hyperlinks in a webpage, and weeding out the ones you've previously marked as Ads, blocking them, and possibly even crossing them out (so that you'll know why they aren't working), or another visual notification.
Adblock works wonderfully (especially the Collapse feature), why shouldn't this?
1 - None 2 - PC Speaker 3 - Soundblaster 4 - Soundblaster Pro 5 - Soundblaster 16 6 - Gravis Ultrasound 7 - Pro Audio Spectrum 16 8 - Roland MPU-401 MIDI interface 9 - Turtle Beach Maui
Sometimes you'd get a real treat -
Pick your IRQs, DMAs.
And so on, and so forth.
As a 6 year-old kid that didn't know english at the time, let alone know what soundcard he had, and WTF IRQ meant, I enjoyed playing "Configure the Soundcard" as much as I did playing the game itself (much like the "Prove you're over 18 before playing Leisure Suit Larry" Minigame [which again, could be circumvented]:).
The real challenge was, that even after I knew what card I had, and which IRQ and DMA it used, some games refused to work with those settings, but did work with others.
Not being able to run softice on the game (i haven't RTFA, but i suppose the driver doesn't prevent softice from running at all), isn't really an inconvenience to legitimate users, i think.
Real annoyances are things like hardware dongles. The ones that took away a LPT or serial port were awful - you've left with a choice of either buying an expansion card (more money just to run this program i payed money for?!) or get the crack.
Programs like Cubase or Logic use USB dongles. Same thing - taking up a USB port is a huge inconvenience when you need them to connect USB intefaced MIDI keyboards. From what I gather, the cracks (which can be downloaded seperatly) are popular with legitimate, paying musicians just because of that.
You'd want a 12 floppy game, so you'd go to your friend's house with 24, because at least one floppy would go bye bye during the trip back home.* I think floppy manufacturers made a fortune just off of game copying.
Modems weren't always an option. CD roms only became commercial with Myst, but the burners cost a fortune back then.
BTW, this is probably off topic, but it is a legitimate reply to a reply. Feel free to mod me down, but isn't this supposed to be a free discussion?
I had a burst of nostalgy a year ago. Got my hands on most of the games I played as a kid. Most of them are crap. Only some are really good. The one letdown, are quests. In retrospect, it was the shiznit. In actuallity, most of them were "click everything you see on screen and collect anything you can pick up. And try "use" on anything you see on screen, and everything you've picked up."
We were kids. It looked better back then. In a few years, we'll get 20 year olds complaining about 3D Holographics (or whatever time will bring), saying "Why, when i was a kid, we had REAL games, not flashy graphics! And we liked it!". Come to think of it, that's not completely true. Graphics weren't really that important to us back then, i think. I mean, we liked nicer graphics, but they weren't something to talk about. I think the gameplay itself was what we enjoyed. One thing's certain. We didn't talk of engines, and opengl versus directx's (and yeah, i know there weren't any unified graphic engines back then to talk about. Or am I wrong?). We had
1 - Monochrome 2 - CGA 3 - EGA 4 - VGA
And we liked it!
* not that I ever copied them games. It's, ummm, something my friends did. Yeah, that's right. And I wasn't really friends with them. They were more like, these kids i knew. And I always scolded them! Honest.
They're informational tools. Revealing the end isn't a spoiler.
When i see a post relating to an article, or review, i want to know if it's worth my time. I don't always care about every small detail. My biggest annoyance is with benchmarks. I don't want to sift through 8 pages of graphs just to read each test's conclusion, and the final verdict. I want the summary. The gist of it. If i care about the subject, if I'm interested in the topic, if i want to delve deeper into the technicalities of it all (which GPU rendered less than 10 FPS at maximum detail with DX9 compared to DX8?), i'll read the entire article, with great delight.
And yes, I know that sites costs money, and that the money comes from ads and click throughs. I'm curious as to what other people might think, especially webmasters/content writers.
A POW token is something that takes a relatively long time to compute but which can be slashdotted quickly.
But seriously, the server went down after two replies, but not before I managed to get this:
[Read this instead adding a load to a battered server]
"Overview
The RPOW server is designed to provide security and reliability through an unprecedented degree of visibility and transparency in its operations. For the first time it will be possible for any user of the system, anywhere in the world, to know what code is running on the server and to inspect that code for loopholes or back doors. I have done my best to make this system secure even against my efforts as the owner, operator and designer of the system to compromise its operations. I welcome public scrutiny of the code and of the design.
The RPOW system represents a new kind of security model, and is therefore unusually challenging to present and to review. RPOW combines an exceptional degree of physical security with an unprecedented level of transparency and visibility into the workings of the RPOW server. This combination implements the design goal of RPOW as a "Transparent Server", a system whose security properties can be analyzed and evaluated from any system on the internet.
In operation, the RPOW system consists of three parts: the server, the host process, and the client library with its associated demo driver. We will consider each part in turn. "
and this
"RPOW FAQs
Questions
1. What is the RPOW system?
2. How is RPOW pronounced?
3. How do I know the RPOW system is secure?
4. What is the difference between RPOW and Hashcash?
5. What is the difference between RPOW and Ecash?
6. What are some possible applications of the RPOW system?
7. How fast is the server?
8. If RPOW becomes popular, how could one server handle all the users?
9. Won't Moore's Law mean that tokens lose their value over time?
10. Why can't users pass RPOW tokens to each other without using a server?
11. Won't the RPOW server run out of disk space if it keeps track of all tokens it has ever seen?
12. Are you going to make changes to the RPOW system?
13. Why did you choose the IBM4758 Secure Cryptographic Coprocessor as the platform for the RPOW server?
14. Wasn't the IBM 4758 security broken a few years ago?
Answers
1. The RPOW system has three parts: client, host, and server. The client is a software library (plus a simple command-line driver for demonstration purposes) to allow generation and exchange of RPOW tokens. The host software runs on the PC which has the IBM 4758 cryptographic coprocessor card plugged into it. It acts as an intermediary, listening for connections from the net and passing data between client and server. It also assists the server with certain operations. The server runs on the IBM 4758 card and performs the secure cryptographic operations which implement the RPOW system.
2. RPOW is pronounced are-pow.
3. The security of the RPOW system ultimately depends on its design and its implementation. For the design, see the theory and security pages. For the implementation, see the source code available from the download page. The unique properties of the RPOW system design allow you to remotely verify that the program generated from the source code you download here is what is actually running on the RPOW server. If the design and implementation are sound, and that program is what is running on the server, you have a foundation for trust in the security of the system.
4. RPOW uses hashcash for its proof of work (POW) tokens. Hashcash tokens are evidence that a certain substantial amount of computer effort was expended to create them. RPOW allows hashcash tokens to be exchanged for RPOW tokens of an equivalent value, which can then be further exchanged for new RPOW tokens. The effect is similar to being able to pass
The Fusion HDTV III QAM can be seen online at specialty stores like Digital Connection for around $170.00. This is around $100.00 cheaper than a similar hardware decoder card by MyHD. However, I'm certain that the MyHD or AccessDTV cards will deliver a far more stable image. What the Fusion has going for it is QAM reception and the included DVD convector software. It also functions with TitanTV for scheduled recording. If you are concerned about possible jerkiness and dropped frames (I assume you are) you should first try out the demo from the DVico website. ATI's card appears to be a software-based card as well from what I can tell. This card retails for $199.00 but I have not had the opportunity to test it. For the Linux buffs out there, check out PCHDTV when you get a chance. This company offers a software-based HDTV Tuner Card similar to the original Fusion I design which is exclusively for Linux. It uses the Xine engine for the HD decoding. Fun Stuff."
Quoth the site: http://www.claria.com/companyinfo/careers/
"Associate General Counsel - Litigation Redwood City, CA
The successful candidate must have the skills and experience necessary to assist the General Counsel in managing complex litigation involving IP law, advertising, technology, and the Internet. You will execute an agreed-upon strategy by, for example, independently managing discovery efforts, directing depositions, outlining and reviewing briefs and oral arguments, assist in preparing for trials, and generally providing overall guidance to, and closely working with, outside counsel.
Requirements include: Leading law school, member of the California State Bar, and at least 6 years of relevant litigation experience in a nationally recognized law firm and/or an in-house legal department; Demonstrated ability and successful history of managing large scale litigation including large discovery efforts; Demonstrated familiarity working with technology and/or Internet companies and with IP law; Ability to formulate successful, complex pre-litigation and litigation strategy; Ability to operate independently, effectively and in a professional manner in various project and cross-functional team settings, and with various external contacts; Excellent organizational, project management, communication and interpersonal skills."
Slashdot Mirror
While we're on the subject, how's IBM's track record?
mirror here.
consent is probably clicking "yes" on Neilsen's EULA :)
you're supposed to buy one complete product, from one company, that integrates top notch components for a premium.
In reality, Apple only manufactures the motherboard... and puts the Apple logo on the side.
You're really paying for the design and the OS.
My advice? If you want high quality components, build your own computer. Learning that, saves up a lot of money.
PowerBook 5300 batteries ...
G3 Power Adapters
iBook Logic Boards
Raw Whole Almonds
Mac OS X 10.2.8 Patch Am I forgetting anything else?
So, you can d/l a crack, and no more dongles, cds, or on-line registrations for you.
Obivously, as long as these copy prevention schemes exist, these cracks will be available.
But if cracks are available, people will still pirate games instead of paying.
And if piracy exists, you can always blame your last game's failure on it (instead of admitting it was shit). And to protect your declining sales, you add more copy prevention schemes.
to War Driving...
Eight Oh Two dot Eleven Be. Full Speed Packet.
Let's assume they are payed ads, disguised as articles, should they still be visible to subscribers?
Adblock works wonderfully (especially the Collapse feature), why shouldn't this?
Linkblock, anyone?
1 - None
:).
:)
2 - PC Speaker
3 - Soundblaster
4 - Soundblaster Pro
5 - Soundblaster 16
6 - Gravis Ultrasound
7 - Pro Audio Spectrum 16
8 - Roland MPU-401 MIDI interface
9 - Turtle Beach Maui
Sometimes you'd get a real treat -
Pick your IRQs, DMAs.
And so on, and so forth.
As a 6 year-old kid that didn't know english at the time, let alone know what soundcard he had, and WTF IRQ meant, I enjoyed playing "Configure the Soundcard" as much as I did playing the game itself (much like the "Prove you're over 18 before playing Leisure Suit Larry" Minigame [which again, could be circumvented]
The real challenge was, that even after I knew what card I had, and which IRQ and DMA it used, some games refused to work with those settings, but did work with others.
Good times
Not being able to run softice on the game (i haven't RTFA, but i suppose the driver doesn't prevent softice from running at all), isn't really an inconvenience to legitimate users, i think.
Real annoyances are things like hardware dongles. The ones that took away a LPT or serial port were awful - you've left with a choice of either buying an expansion card (more money just to run this program i payed money for?!) or get the crack.
Programs like Cubase or Logic use USB dongles. Same thing - taking up a USB port is a huge inconvenience when you need them to connect USB intefaced MIDI keyboards. From what I gather, the cracks (which can be downloaded seperatly) are popular with legitimate, paying musicians just because of that.
You'd want a 12 floppy game, so you'd go to your friend's house with 24, because at least one floppy would go bye bye during the trip back home.* I think floppy manufacturers made a fortune just off of game copying.
Modems weren't always an option. CD roms only became commercial with Myst, but the burners cost a fortune back then.
BTW, this is probably off topic, but it is a legitimate reply to a reply. Feel free to mod me down, but isn't this supposed to be a free discussion?
I had a burst of nostalgy a year ago. Got my hands on most of the games I played as a kid. Most of them are crap. Only some are really good. The one letdown, are quests. In retrospect, it was the shiznit. In actuallity, most of them were "click everything you see on screen and collect anything you can pick up. And try "use" on anything you see on screen, and everything you've picked up."
We were kids. It looked better back then. In a few years, we'll get 20 year olds complaining about 3D Holographics (or whatever time will bring), saying "Why, when i was a kid, we had REAL games, not flashy graphics! And we liked it!".
Come to think of it, that's not completely true. Graphics weren't really that important to us back then, i think. I mean, we liked nicer graphics, but they weren't something to talk about. I think the gameplay itself was what we enjoyed.
One thing's certain. We didn't talk of engines, and opengl versus directx's (and yeah, i know there weren't any unified graphic engines back then to talk about. Or am I wrong?). We had
1 - Monochrome
2 - CGA
3 - EGA
4 - VGA
And we liked it!
* not that I ever copied them games. It's, ummm, something my friends did. Yeah, that's right. And I wasn't really friends with them. They were more like, these kids i knew. And I always scolded them! Honest.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." - Revelations 22:13.
They're informational tools. Revealing the end isn't a spoiler.
When i see a post relating to an article, or review, i want to know if it's worth my time. I don't always care about every small detail. My biggest annoyance is with benchmarks. I don't want to sift through 8 pages of graphs just to read each test's conclusion, and the final verdict. I want the summary. The gist of it. If i care about the subject, if I'm interested in the topic, if i want to delve deeper into the technicalities of it all (which GPU rendered less than 10 FPS at maximum detail with DX9 compared to DX8?), i'll read the entire article, with great delight.
And yes, I know that sites costs money, and that the money comes from ads and click throughs. I'm curious as to what other people might think, especially webmasters/content writers.
But seriously, the server went down after two replies, but not before I managed to get this:
[Read this instead adding a load to a battered server]
and this
I never seem to see conclusions cited in links to reviews. Is quoting them a faux pas?
"Conclusion
The Fusion HDTV III QAM can be seen online at specialty stores like Digital Connection for around $170.00. This is around $100.00 cheaper than a similar hardware decoder card by MyHD. However, I'm certain that the MyHD or AccessDTV cards will deliver a far more stable image. What the Fusion has going for it is QAM reception and the included DVD convector software. It also functions with TitanTV for scheduled recording. If you are concerned about possible jerkiness and dropped frames (I assume you are) you should first try out the demo from the DVico website. ATI's card appears to be a software-based card as well from what I can tell. This card retails for $199.00 but I have not had the opportunity to test it. For the Linux buffs out there, check out PCHDTV when you get a chance. This company offers a software-based HDTV Tuner Card similar to the original Fusion I design which is exclusively for Linux. It uses the Xine engine for the HD decoding. Fun Stuff."
for you to ebay your /. account?
What a sad world we live in.
I got dibs!
It's mine!
I want it...
Yes?
Repent! The Day of Reckoning is upon us!
Jeebus save us all!!!
...linux? Sorry :/
Quoth the site:
http://www.claria.com/companyinfo/careers/
"Associate General Counsel - Litigation
Redwood City, CA
The successful candidate must have the skills and experience necessary to assist the General Counsel in managing complex litigation involving IP law, advertising, technology, and the Internet. You will execute an agreed-upon strategy by, for example, independently managing discovery efforts, directing depositions, outlining and reviewing briefs and oral arguments, assist in preparing for trials, and generally providing overall guidance to, and closely working with, outside counsel.
Requirements include: Leading law school, member of the California State Bar, and at least 6 years of relevant litigation experience in a nationally recognized law firm and/or an in-house legal department; Demonstrated ability and successful history of managing large scale litigation including large discovery efforts; Demonstrated familiarity working with technology and/or Internet companies and with IP law; Ability to formulate successful, complex pre-litigation and litigation strategy; Ability to operate independently, effectively and in a professional manner in various project and cross-functional team settings, and with various external contacts; Excellent organizational, project management, communication and interpersonal skills."