I actually held back.
Anyone on SlashDot is twice as intelligent as necessary to setup an XBMC install that would blow Boxee out of the water. I bought three Boxee Boxes and sent all three back, don't regret it for a second.
I am just not interested in the work to get XBMC working. When I have tried to get XBMC software installed nothing ever works as easily as Boxee. For example, title scraping, box art, etc I couldn't get to work in XBMC. Boxee, it instantly all worked, categorized my content, got the IMDB information, everything. XBMC the design is lacking if you just want everything to work right after install. Also, I found the XBMC interface just not clear or as intuitive to figure out.
Honeyball made a mistake: DriveSpace wasn't the problem in DOS 6.x... DOUBLESPACE was.
The original version of the compression system DOS 6.x had was called DOUBLESPACE & DriveSpace was the corrected version & it was actually QUITE competitive with Stacker (I used both products, Stacker &/or MS DOS with DoubleSpace in v 6.0, & DriveSpace in v. 6.2 - 6.22 of DOS, as well as Stacker from version 6 - iirc, 8, to compare them both...).
APK
P.S.=> Apparently, for all his ranting on the history of Microsoft's storage efforts, Honeyball's "history" isn't 100% accurate (unless he's from an alternate dimension/reality that is, ala "Bizarro World") either... & this is what you get with journalists who are really only that: Writers, instead of being TRUE "Computer Sciences oriented afficianados"...
What I am also additionally "astounded by", is that nobody else here has caught that... but, then again? Most of the folks that seem to hang around/. the past few years now are too young to have even put their hands on the things that "historical critique" type articles use as examples... & my having to cite this needed correction, first here, exemplifies this apparently... apk
Thanks for correcting. I am old enough to remember this:) It was quite a scandal in how it destroyed data and later caught at putting out of business Stacker (despite MS losing the law suit. Like most people, I didn't use this technology long as the compression was a pain in the butt, used lots of resources, and after the initial release data loss issues left me not thinking it was worth the trouble...
It's a very good start. Brain 1.0 is still the best virus scanner out there.
Still, there are threats that can't be defeated that way. Scenario: Exploit in a major flash application that affects all possible plugins (since they are essentially the same with different interfaces to the browser), an iframe hidden in a webpage on a, say, hotel homepage you happen to visit because you are planning your vacation, infection complete. If you happen to dislike plugins, browsers themselves can have their loopholes (IIRC the MHTML hole already made it to/. today), not to mention that browsers do also rely on APIs in the end, which are the same, no matter what browser you use.
I'm not saying get a AV tool. All I say is that there are still vectors you cannot defeat just by being careful. A system's security is the minimum of the user's and the system's ability. Not the average.
I also use Flash Block:)
You do make a very good point about flash as is your point that nothing is ever full proof. I felt after having done the "right thing" and getting malware, coupled with Mcafee not even allowing me to uninstall it completely, I was sick of the game and decided to try Brain 1.0.
Consider this: the legitimate source's website is hacked, and all its downloads are infected with new malware not yet seen in the wild. This remains unnoticed for several days, during which time the malware has been downloaded by hundreds or even thousands of users. By the time the AV companies get a sample, it's too late for all those downloaders...
Sure these things can happen. But they are very rare. Risk am willing to take over the slow down AV software packages add to my nice clean system
I changed from XP to Windows 7 and skipped anti-virus on my computer. Gmail screens all my documents I receive for viruses, chrome browser has pretty good security, applications I download are from legitimate sources, good backup and archiving, and the occasional malwarebytes scan (yet to find anything in 18 months).
Why did I go this route? Well I found I had malware despite having a fully updated Mcafee AV on my XP computer. I realized safe computing and a modern OS would likely be enough for an educated user -- thus far it has been.
All I have to say is this, as an owner of two android phones, the second only because it physically fell apart from (ab)use and from someone with a love for the platform:
Looks like we still have that 'DON'T USE APPLE BECAUSE IT'S A CLOSED TOTALITARIAN SLAVE PLATFORM!!!! COME TO ANDROID WHERE ITS FREE AND OPEN AND CHAMPAGNE AND PUPPIES!!!!!!' card, right lads? I mean, we're still laughing at the silly iPhone users having to jailbreak their phones so they can run what they want, right chaps? Right?
Now while we're at it, can I can a 'connect phone, run program, press button and you're done' solution for rooting my HTC Wildfire? I'm perfectly happy of course, to run adb and replace my bootloader and all the other things that used to get me wet while I was a student - isn't that the definition of open? - but I get the feeling that we could make it just as easy as those Apple user fellows and not lose any of the openness. Right guys?
Sarcasm away, that dream is gone, guys. The phone networks got to you and Google gave up. If you're going to carry on tooting about the openness of Android to users (they couldn't care less if their developers have to pay to develop or not) then you need some other talking points.
You are so going to be voted down for saying anything negative about android.
p.s. BTW, you're 100% correct.
Yes, I am sure the "open" android based devices wouldn't have this problem (sarcasm). I am sure a patch would be out INSTANTLY and then just wait for one of the many hardware manufacturers to release a patch for your locked device. Given that the hardware manufacturers time to release new versions is usually several months after an android release i am sure it will be timely (LOL).
Perhaps newer devices see patches faster but once your android device is 1yr old the hardware maker has looooong since lost mo4tivation to keep your phone current since that doesn't keep you buying new hardware. Good thing android is open so just upgrade the OS by downloading the OS from google and install on your phone -- oh wait it's locked down too in most countries by the hardware manufacturer.
Face it people, all phone devices are locked down now. Google tried but failed to get us there...
Are you kidding? User privacy (or the lack thereof) is their main revenue stream!
I stopped putting anything of consequence on Facebook (including pictures) over a year ago. After seeing how much Facebook changed since I joined when Facebook was still a closed edu community (a LOT better back then too) and the endless crazy privacy settings I stopped using it. Privacy is now simple, there is absolutely nothing on facebook that I care about anymore. For example, if someone tags me in a photo, I immediately un-tag the photo.
By now, if you keep posting things about yourself on Facebook that you're concerned about it's you're own fault. Privacy is easy now for me on Facebook.
I briefly had ADSL and it was crap compared to cable modem. People forget the ASYMMETRIC part of DSL. In my usage I really felt this when using the net. Lots of lags etc. I switched to a cable modem and it was night and day better in my usage.
Granted this was many years ago so perhaps it's better now?
You do realize that Apple has paid out over a billion dollars to developers? I always enjoy these off the cuff statemetns about how poorly Apple Developers are treated when the simple fact is, that it is a lucrative market, which is why 3 of 4 still plan to develop for it in the immediate future. (ref: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20007010-260.html)
Assuming they create a good product, they are treated very well, getting an instant distribution model that functions at break even. Not a bad deal at all.
Given the way that Apple treats 3rd party devs and the locked down phone, it would be very surprising if Apple keeps their loyalty without making a major course correction. Those dick moves like randomly rejecting applications and stealing functionality out of apps for the base system isn't really endearing them with the people they need to keep the appstore vibrant.
The simple fact is that a huge majority of apps are approved within 2 weeks. Of those that are rejected, almost unilaterally they violated the developer agreement, and then complain about it after the fact. Google Voice was a good example. At the time it was developed, it offered unlimited texting, which duplicated core functionality, which of course is listed in black in white the agreement.
I know it's popular to love to hate Apple lately, but the simple fact is that the majority of apps are rejected because the developer took a chance and ignored the agreement. I will grant that some of these rejections seem a bit stupid.
Given that 95% percent are accepted without any issue at all, leaving only 5% of questionable apps, the argument that Apple is rejecting apps willy nilly is not exactly a good reflection of reality.
Extremely well said. Sorry to have to watch your comment get modded down by the anti-apple crowd:(
It's not just a phone. It is determining how portable device will be used by the mainstream. Locked down, or open? The ability to load your own music and ring tones, and app, or only loading what you are allowed..at a price, of course.
Uh what android devices are as free as you claim? Last I heard you have to wait for someone to "jailbreak"/root the android device to be able to do what you want with it. This "android is open and free" is a load of bull. Motorola phones are all locked up so are HTCs. I also heard many Android devices, just like iPhone, has apps you can't even remove by the user. Yes, that doesnt sound very open to me.
Hope they fix the dust collecting on the solar panels issue.
Something as simple as compressed air blowing on the panels would do the trick.
Since there is a thin atmosphere on Mars, they could just have a little compressor pump the Martian air instead of an air or CO2 canister.
Funny, I didn't mean to be "trolling" . My original comment went from +3 Insightful to Troll! Yikes, sorry to say something negative about Slashdot's pet project! I will know better next time.
I was a long time advocate of Firefox until 3.x. I don't know if it's the fact that websites are more heavily scripted than before or if Firefox is just getting slower (or both!) but c'mon guys! Speed is key.
Ditto. I loved Phoenix->Firefox for a long time. But it has gotten to be like an old gas guzzling 1970s car!:) I am not sure I agree with the addage that features=bloat=slower application. Well coded applications can add features and not slow down -- it is possible!
I hate to break it to you, but as chrome adds those features it's going to slow down and get sluggish. Firefox has for some time beat Chrome on memory use. But, OTOH it's somewhat mooted by the fact that Chrome tends to spy and seems to thwart disabling intrusive ads.
That's why I use SRWare Iron. Google spyware removed from Chrome:)
As for features, let's see if Chrome slows down. The Google coders have been doing a better job than the Firefox ones for the last couple of years so perhaps Chrome will be able to grow and not slow down?
I knew Firefox was piss slow compared to Chrome, but my god to see how slow is sad. It's why I have been slowly migrating to Chrome where I can, though the lack of some features I need (such as a master password) make Chrome not an option for all the places I need to work.
I hope Firefox starts improving as its add-ins and features will only last so long as the other more modern browsers catch up on features next...
Why has Apple created a disparity between its two newest products, released only a couple of months apart? The iPhone 4 will have twice as much ram as the iPad, a better screen and now a newer OS - why is the iPad looking like the second rate child here?
Don't get me wrong, I have an iPad and I love it, but I am baffled as to why Apple once again puts noses out of shape by making such an obvious difference in spec between the two products. Its almost as tho the iPad is the last of the previous generation, rather than the current generation.
It's called iPad 2. How else they gonna get you to buy it?
Slashdot Mirror
I actually held back. Anyone on SlashDot is twice as intelligent as necessary to setup an XBMC install that would blow Boxee out of the water. I bought three Boxee Boxes and sent all three back, don't regret it for a second.
I am just not interested in the work to get XBMC working. When I have tried to get XBMC software installed nothing ever works as easily as Boxee. For example, title scraping, box art, etc I couldn't get to work in XBMC. Boxee, it instantly all worked, categorized my content, got the IMDB information, everything. XBMC the design is lacking if you just want everything to work right after install. Also, I found the XBMC interface just not clear or as intuitive to figure out.
Honeyball made a mistake: DriveSpace wasn't the problem in DOS 6.x... DOUBLESPACE was.
The original version of the compression system DOS 6.x had was called DOUBLESPACE & DriveSpace was the corrected version & it was actually QUITE competitive with Stacker (I used both products, Stacker &/or MS DOS with DoubleSpace in v 6.0, & DriveSpace in v. 6.2 - 6.22 of DOS, as well as Stacker from version 6 - iirc, 8, to compare them both...).
APK
P.S.=> Apparently, for all his ranting on the history of Microsoft's storage efforts, Honeyball's "history" isn't 100% accurate (unless he's from an alternate dimension/reality that is, ala "Bizarro World") either... & this is what you get with journalists who are really only that: Writers, instead of being TRUE "Computer Sciences oriented afficianados"...
What I am also additionally "astounded by", is that nobody else here has caught that... but, then again? Most of the folks that seem to hang around /. the past few years now are too young to have even put their hands on the things that "historical critique" type articles use as examples... & my having to cite this needed correction, first here, exemplifies this apparently... apk
Thanks for correcting. I am old enough to remember this :) It was quite a scandal in how it destroyed data and later caught at putting out of business Stacker (despite MS losing the law suit. Like most people, I didn't use this technology long as the compression was a pain in the butt, used lots of resources, and after the initial release data loss issues left me not thinking it was worth the trouble...
It's a very good start. Brain 1.0 is still the best virus scanner out there.
Still, there are threats that can't be defeated that way. Scenario: Exploit in a major flash application that affects all possible plugins (since they are essentially the same with different interfaces to the browser), an iframe hidden in a webpage on a, say, hotel homepage you happen to visit because you are planning your vacation, infection complete. If you happen to dislike plugins, browsers themselves can have their loopholes (IIRC the MHTML hole already made it to /. today), not to mention that browsers do also rely on APIs in the end, which are the same, no matter what browser you use.
I'm not saying get a AV tool. All I say is that there are still vectors you cannot defeat just by being careful. A system's security is the minimum of the user's and the system's ability. Not the average.
I also use Flash Block :)
You do make a very good point about flash as is your point that nothing is ever full proof. I felt after having done the "right thing" and getting malware, coupled with Mcafee not even allowing me to uninstall it completely, I was sick of the game and decided to try Brain 1.0.
Consider this: the legitimate source's website is hacked, and all its downloads are infected with new malware not yet seen in the wild. This remains unnoticed for several days, during which time the malware has been downloaded by hundreds or even thousands of users. By the time the AV companies get a sample, it's too late for all those downloaders...
Sure these things can happen. But they are very rare. Risk am willing to take over the slow down AV software packages add to my nice clean system
I changed from XP to Windows 7 and skipped anti-virus on my computer. Gmail screens all my documents I receive for viruses, chrome browser has pretty good security, applications I download are from legitimate sources, good backup and archiving, and the occasional malwarebytes scan (yet to find anything in 18 months). Why did I go this route? Well I found I had malware despite having a fully updated Mcafee AV on my XP computer. I realized safe computing and a modern OS would likely be enough for an educated user -- thus far it has been.
All I have to say is this, as an owner of two android phones, the second only because it physically fell apart from (ab)use and from someone with a love for the platform:
Looks like we still have that 'DON'T USE APPLE BECAUSE IT'S A CLOSED TOTALITARIAN SLAVE PLATFORM!!!! COME TO ANDROID WHERE ITS FREE AND OPEN AND CHAMPAGNE AND PUPPIES!!!!!!' card, right lads? I mean, we're still laughing at the silly iPhone users having to jailbreak their phones so they can run what they want, right chaps? Right?
Now while we're at it, can I can a 'connect phone, run program, press button and you're done' solution for rooting my HTC Wildfire? I'm perfectly happy of course, to run adb and replace my bootloader and all the other things that used to get me wet while I was a student - isn't that the definition of open? - but I get the feeling that we could make it just as easy as those Apple user fellows and not lose any of the openness. Right guys?
Sarcasm away, that dream is gone, guys. The phone networks got to you and Google gave up. If you're going to carry on tooting about the openness of Android to users (they couldn't care less if their developers have to pay to develop or not) then you need some other talking points.
You are so going to be voted down for saying anything negative about android. p.s. BTW, you're 100% correct.
The nexus one is as unlocked as it gets - I got the latest 2 OS updates OTA not depending on my carrier, direct from google!
Unfortunately, it failed to sell well and was essentially pulled from the market.
Yes, I am sure the "open" android based devices wouldn't have this problem (sarcasm). I am sure a patch would be out INSTANTLY and then just wait for one of the many hardware manufacturers to release a patch for your locked device. Given that the hardware manufacturers time to release new versions is usually several months after an android release i am sure it will be timely (LOL).
Perhaps newer devices see patches faster but once your android device is 1yr old the hardware maker has looooong since lost mo4tivation to keep your phone current since that doesn't keep you buying new hardware. Good thing android is open so just upgrade the OS by downloading the OS from google and install on your phone -- oh wait it's locked down too in most countries by the hardware manufacturer.
Face it people, all phone devices are locked down now. Google tried but failed to get us there...
Are you kidding? User privacy (or the lack thereof) is their main revenue stream!
I stopped putting anything of consequence on Facebook (including pictures) over a year ago. After seeing how much Facebook changed since I joined when Facebook was still a closed edu community (a LOT better back then too) and the endless crazy privacy settings I stopped using it. Privacy is now simple, there is absolutely nothing on facebook that I care about anymore. For example, if someone tags me in a photo, I immediately un-tag the photo.
By now, if you keep posting things about yourself on Facebook that you're concerned about it's you're own fault. Privacy is easy now for me on Facebook.
I briefly had ADSL and it was crap compared to cable modem. People forget the ASYMMETRIC part of DSL. In my usage I really felt this when using the net. Lots of lags etc. I switched to a cable modem and it was night and day better in my usage. Granted this was many years ago so perhaps it's better now?
You do realize that Apple has paid out over a billion dollars to developers? I always enjoy these off the cuff statemetns about how poorly Apple Developers are treated when the simple fact is, that it is a lucrative market, which is why 3 of 4 still plan to develop for it in the immediate future. (ref: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20007010-260.html)
Assuming they create a good product, they are treated very well, getting an instant distribution model that functions at break even. Not a bad deal at all.
The simple fact is that a huge majority of apps are approved within 2 weeks. Of those that are rejected, almost unilaterally they violated the developer agreement, and then complain about it after the fact. Google Voice was a good example. At the time it was developed, it offered unlimited texting, which duplicated core functionality, which of course is listed in black in white the agreement.
I know it's popular to love to hate Apple lately, but the simple fact is that the majority of apps are rejected because the developer took a chance and ignored the agreement. I will grant that some of these rejections seem a bit stupid.
Given that 95% percent are accepted without any issue at all, leaving only 5% of questionable apps, the argument that Apple is rejecting apps willy nilly is not exactly a good reflection of reality.
Extremely well said. Sorry to have to watch your comment get modded down by the anti-apple crowd :(
you can disable the iphone threading in settings....
At one point a couple years ago i tried to like that site and just couldn't get into it.
What are all these phones you are using which you claim aren't smartphones?
It's not just a phone. It is determining how portable device will be used by the mainstream. Locked down, or open? The ability to load your own music and ring tones, and app, or only loading what you are allowed ..at a price, of course.
Uh what android devices are as free as you claim? Last I heard you have to wait for someone to "jailbreak"/root the android device to be able to do what you want with it. This "android is open and free" is a load of bull. Motorola phones are all locked up so are HTCs. I also heard many Android devices, just like iPhone, has apps you can't even remove by the user. Yes, that doesnt sound very open to me.
Where should we long time Slashdotters go then?
Hope they fix the dust collecting on the solar panels issue. Something as simple as compressed air blowing on the panels would do the trick. Since there is a thin atmosphere on Mars, they could just have a little compressor pump the Martian air instead of an air or CO2 canister.
Yes, it's nuclear powered... problem solved :)
Here is what SRWare says. http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php
Funny, I didn't mean to be "trolling" . My original comment went from +3 Insightful to Troll! Yikes, sorry to say something negative about Slashdot's pet project! I will know better next time.
I was a long time advocate of Firefox until 3.x. I don't know if it's the fact that websites are more heavily scripted than before or if Firefox is just getting slower (or both!) but c'mon guys! Speed is key.
Ditto. I loved Phoenix->Firefox for a long time. But it has gotten to be like an old gas guzzling 1970s car! :) I am not sure I agree with the addage that features=bloat=slower application. Well coded applications can add features and not slow down -- it is possible!
I hate to break it to you, but as chrome adds those features it's going to slow down and get sluggish. Firefox has for some time beat Chrome on memory use. But, OTOH it's somewhat mooted by the fact that Chrome tends to spy and seems to thwart disabling intrusive ads.
That's why I use SRWare Iron. Google spyware removed from Chrome :)
As for features, let's see if Chrome slows down. The Google coders have been doing a better job than the Firefox ones for the last couple of years so perhaps Chrome will be able to grow and not slow down?
I knew Firefox was piss slow compared to Chrome, but my god to see how slow is sad. It's why I have been slowly migrating to Chrome where I can, though the lack of some features I need (such as a master password) make Chrome not an option for all the places I need to work. I hope Firefox starts improving as its add-ins and features will only last so long as the other more modern browsers catch up on features next...
1.) Getting relationship advice from Slashdot is like getting financial advice from Iceland.
2.) The proper display of affection for the female posterior is an open-palm slap, perhaps accompanied with a generous squeeze. Repeat as necessary.
This post is brought to you by the CAPTCHA "ashman"
Wish i had mod points. This was quite funny, especially #1
Wow really? I heard it ran great on 3gs.
Why has Apple created a disparity between its two newest products, released only a couple of months apart? The iPhone 4 will have twice as much ram as the iPad, a better screen and now a newer OS - why is the iPad looking like the second rate child here? Don't get me wrong, I have an iPad and I love it, but I am baffled as to why Apple once again puts noses out of shape by making such an obvious difference in spec between the two products. Its almost as tho the iPad is the last of the previous generation, rather than the current generation.
It's called iPad 2. How else they gonna get you to buy it?