While I'm certainly skeptical of the data on that site and in fact many statistics websites, but I'd imagine they are getting their statistics by looking at web traffic, rather than actually doing real research. Note they mention browsing. Why do you think that is?
Well, I just searched the source of Pidgin (because it is open source) and found it does indeed access/etc/passwd through getpwuid(getuid()) for use in Bonjour, Silc, and Zephyr protocols. There is no direct access to/etc/passwd and no use of getpwuid without using the current users uid through getuid. Skype may be doing the same thing, but there is really no way to know, is there?
How are.exes on Windows better than apt-based packaging? Windows: 1)find.exe 2)download.exe 3)go through installation wizard
apt: 1)if you already know package, do apt-get install... and no clicking through an installer or 1)search for a package with apt-cache, aptitude, or synaptic 2)install, again without installer or 1)find a.deb 2)download.deb 3)install.deb with dpkg or gdebi again with no installer to click through
I don't see how.exes are better as an installation method.
I don't see how interoperability issues could happen as long as the distros keep distributing everything under the GPL.
From GPL 2:
7. If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues), conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program.
Please correct me if I am wrong but it seems that if MS gives some distros the right to implement certain features that would violate MS patents, the distros wouldn't actually be allowed to implement them without violating GPL.
Absolutely not. When I walk away with your CD, you no longer have it or the license to listen to it. That right was transfered with the transfer of posession.
So what if I make a backup copy of my CD and someone steals that? Am I no longer allowed to listen to my original copy or make another backup because someone stole my license?
I knew someone would bring up virtualization, but it is still harder to use (especially older) versions of IE, because you need to have multiple versions of Windows too. With Firefox, Opera, etc., you can just copy your XP (or other preferred OS) image and install whatever version you want.
but probably so that they only have to test for one browser's compatibility
That would make sense if they were only supporting IE6, but they are supporting IE5.0+, which means IE5, IE5.5, IE6, and (presumably) IE7. That is already four browsers, and they are browsers that cannot easily be installed on the same computer at the same time, making them even more difficult to test.
I agree with you for the most part. I have an X5L and enjoy it a lot. What you say is slightly inaccurate though. The X5L will do PlaysForSure DRM with a firmware update and Cowon's newest mp3 players (iAudio 6, U3, T2, F2) already support it.
Stuff by COWON America is pretty good. They support a whole lot of audio formats, such as mp3, wav, flac, ogg vorbis, and wma (including DRMed, though it requires a firmware update on all but their newest player). I just got an iAudio x5l, and I am quite impressed by it, especially the 35hr. battery life. The only downside as far as I'm concerned is the video, which is only 160x128 xvid at a bitrate of about 256kb/s, but they have a model specifically for video playing called the A2.
The problem is not ease of installation nearly as much as it not being preinstalled on many computers. Most Linux installation processes are pretty easy, maybe even easier than a Windows installation, but the average user doesn't do a Windows installation either - it is preinstalled. What we need is either a bunch of OEMs cooperating, or some kind of effort to install Linux on people's computers for them.
Is online gambling really that different from regular gambling? The U.S. did not ban regular gambling, so it is effectively banning something that is allowed domestically.
Maybe when the article was written, this wasn't up, but following the first link in the article led to this list: The Nintendo Wii bundle includes the following items (It does say subject to change, though):
Nintendo Wii Console (includes 1 remote controller, 1 nunchuck, cables, sensor bar, console stand, and Wii Sports game) Wii Memory SD 1GB Additional Wii Remote Controller 6 Games:
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Red Steel
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
Madden NFL 2007 12 Month Product Replacement Plan Game Informer Gift Subscription
1) There is valid GPL code.
2) It is invalidated in a non-Novell product by a patent.
3) The other company must pay MS money and remove infringing code.
4) Novell must also remove the code so not to violate the GPL - Code does not get forked, there is no wedge.
The only difference between Novell and other distributors is that Novell can't get sued by Microsoft. They still have to remove the code or face violating the GPL. It also seems kind of shaky legally, because it basically means Novell is admitting they are violating MS's patents, which means they are violating the GPL.
I don't understand how this can work. GPL-licensed software cannot be encumbered by patents. If the software cannot be redistributed (say, by other vendors) because it is violating patents, wouldn't that mean it can't be GPL?
True, there are gcj and blackdown, but I was referring to a Sun Java that had a 64-bit browser plug-in. I thought it was implied given an open Sun Java was what the article is about. I appreciate the efforts going into non-Sun Java implementations, but as of now they don't quite have full compatibility.
Slashdot Mirror
Just don't friend Cass Sunstein on Facebook.
While I'm certainly skeptical of the data on that site and in fact many statistics websites, but I'd imagine they are getting their statistics by looking at web traffic, rather than actually doing real research. Note they mention browsing. Why do you think that is?
If you click the "help" button, it says "This report lists the market share of the top operating systems in use for browsing (not servers)."
Well, I just searched the source of Pidgin (because it is open source) and found it does indeed access /etc/passwd through getpwuid(getuid()) for use in Bonjour, Silc, and Zephyr protocols. There is no direct access to /etc/passwd and no use of getpwuid without using the current users uid through getuid. Skype may be doing the same thing, but there is really no way to know, is there?
Here, I made a pdf after it finally loaded in OpenOffice for anyone interested: http://meinwald.info.nyud.net:8090/tmp/intarea-7.p df
How are .exes on Windows better than apt-based packaging? .exe .exe
... and no clicking through an installer .deb .deb .deb with dpkg or gdebi again with no installer to click through
.exes are better as an installation method.
Windows:
1)find
2)download
3)go through installation wizard
apt:
1)if you already know package, do apt-get install
or
1)search for a package with apt-cache, aptitude, or synaptic
2)install, again without installer
or
1)find a
2)download
3)install
I don't see how
But when Microsoft sues an "unprotected" distro, can't the code no longer be distributed by any distro?
From GPL 2: Please correct me if I am wrong but it seems that if MS gives some distros the right to implement certain features that would violate MS patents, the distros wouldn't actually be allowed to implement them without violating GPL.
So what if I make a backup copy of my CD and someone steals that? Am I no longer allowed to listen to my original copy or make another backup because someone stole my license?
Google Gears works on the following browsers:
Additionally, the team is working on supporting Safari on Mac OS X in a future release.
Right. I was not saying it would make it more expensive than inkjet, just that it is another cost that should be taken into account.
People would use it for the same reason they would use any web service - It is accessible from anywhere.
The toner costs $45, but you have to buy a drum every so often too for $78.
I knew someone would bring up virtualization, but it is still harder to use (especially older) versions of IE, because you need to have multiple versions of Windows too. With Firefox, Opera, etc., you can just copy your XP (or other preferred OS) image and install whatever version you want.
but probably so that they only have to test for one browser's compatibility
That would make sense if they were only supporting IE6, but they are supporting IE5.0+, which means IE5, IE5.5, IE6, and (presumably) IE7. That is already four browsers, and they are browsers that cannot easily be installed on the same computer at the same time, making them even more difficult to test.
I agree with you for the most part. I have an X5L and enjoy it a lot. What you say is slightly inaccurate though. The X5L will do PlaysForSure DRM with a firmware update and Cowon's newest mp3 players (iAudio 6, U3, T2, F2) already support it.
Stuff by COWON America is pretty good. They support a whole lot of audio formats, such as mp3, wav, flac, ogg vorbis, and wma (including DRMed, though it requires a firmware update on all but their newest player). I just got an iAudio x5l, and I am quite impressed by it, especially the 35hr. battery life. The only downside as far as I'm concerned is the video, which is only 160x128 xvid at a bitrate of about 256kb/s, but they have a model specifically for video playing called the A2.
The current patent system doesn't prevent people from licensing their IP for free, so those looking to do something good for society can do that.
The problem is not ease of installation nearly as much as it not being preinstalled on many computers. Most Linux installation processes are pretty easy, maybe even easier than a Windows installation, but the average user doesn't do a Windows installation either - it is preinstalled. What we need is either a bunch of OEMs cooperating, or some kind of effort to install Linux on people's computers for them.
Is online gambling really that different from regular gambling? The U.S. did not ban regular gambling, so it is effectively banning something that is allowed domestically.
Maybe when the article was written, this wasn't up, but following the first link in the article led to this list:
The Nintendo Wii bundle includes the following items (It does say subject to change, though):
Nintendo Wii Console (includes 1 remote controller, 1 nunchuck, cables, sensor bar, console stand, and Wii Sports game)
Wii Memory SD 1GB
Additional Wii Remote Controller
6 Games:
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Trauma Center: Second Opinion
Red Steel
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz
Madden NFL 2007
12 Month Product Replacement Plan
Game Informer Gift Subscription
$694.88 plus tax and handling
1) There is valid GPL code. 2) It is invalidated in a non-Novell product by a patent. 3) The other company must pay MS money and remove infringing code. 4) Novell must also remove the code so not to violate the GPL - Code does not get forked, there is no wedge. The only difference between Novell and other distributors is that Novell can't get sued by Microsoft. They still have to remove the code or face violating the GPL. It also seems kind of shaky legally, because it basically means Novell is admitting they are violating MS's patents, which means they are violating the GPL.
I don't understand how this can work. GPL-licensed software cannot be encumbered by patents. If the software cannot be redistributed (say, by other vendors) because it is violating patents, wouldn't that mean it can't be GPL?
True, there are gcj and blackdown, but I was referring to a Sun Java that had a 64-bit browser plug-in. I thought it was implied given an open Sun Java was what the article is about. I appreciate the efforts going into non-Sun Java implementations, but as of now they don't quite have full compatibility.
Now maybe we can have a Java plug-in for 64-bit browsers.