For a lot of people, the reason to make a Knoppix disc is to use it on other people's computers. If it was your computer, you'd just install Linux instead of using a disc, right? Now, if you're using someone else's computer, and then you probably don't have time to download and install a bunch of packages. Therefore, the more packages you can bring with you, the better, since you won't have to waste time retrieving them from the internet.
A) Java is open in that sense, but if you try to distribute an extended version Java yourself, Sun won't approve of it. So, you can do what you want, but this is asking a lot of work from one set of developers.
B) Again, writing your own widgets is too much to ask of average developers.
C) JNI is, by definition, not Java. So, you're saying, "Java is good. Just combine it with some not-Java." JNI has its place, but it exists to plug the holes in Java, not as an all purpose excuse for its failings.
D) I used Eclipse two years ago. It didn't seem very Windows-like at the time. Has it changed?
The problem with Java (especially as a GUI) is that it works acceptably everywhere and works spectacularly nowhere. Since Java isn't open source, and since there is no one platform for which it's targeted, Java is basically a mish-mash of UI features and whatnot: Jack of all trades and master of none. No one can go back and make it closely match the look and feel of a particular OS, since it isn't open source, and Sun hasn't made it match any one OS, since there's no one OS where it thrives.
So, were NeoOffice written in Java, yes it would have been ported much faster on the one hand, but on the other hand, it would never have a chance to become more than a port. Java applications (at least pure Java programs) always seem like ports, even on their originating OS.
Java is great for backend stuff where you're not sure what kind of hardware you want to run on, but for GUI, it's a compromise that leaves everyone slightly unhappy.
So are you claiming that if someone put out good software no one would buy it? And you think that with software patents, people would suddenly have a reason to make only "professional grade" software?
Here's a clue: patents allow for a limited time monopoly, so as to spur innovation. The software industry has innovation sprouting out its ass. It has entirely too much innovation. That's your whole problem with software, right? People are trying so hard to do new stuff, that they never bother to do existing stuff correctly. So why do we need to implement a mechanism that is designed to spur innovation? Meanwhile, adding patents allows for monopolies. Now, will this have a good effect or a bad effect. Hmm, let's examine common monopolies and find out:
* Telephone service before the break up of AT&T: expensive, shitty * Telephone service since the end of the monopoly: confusing, but a lot cheaper and with better service * Local cable companies: expensive, send repair men when they feel like (ie. when you're at work) * Operating systems: Windows is basically crap. It used to be unstable crap, but XP fixed that, making it stable crap. Apple was crap between System 7 and OS X.
The only monopoly I can think of that hasn't lead to worse service are the electric companies, and that's only because they do no services to speak of. They just make sure the electricity is always going to your house, and if it gets cut off by a storm, they send someone to fix it so that they can start billing you again ASAP.
So why do we need software patents again? Oh yeah, so that we can get the joys of less competition. Whee!
Complex can be a good thing, but it really depends on the case. I played Tetris yesterday for the approximately one billionth time. In fact, I've been playing Tetris on and off for more than ten years now. But I don't think anyone could argue that Tetris is very complex at all. Tetris doesn't succeed in spite of its simplicity, but because of it. Tetris is a game that you can understand instantly, but take years to master. But not only does it take a long time to master, it's fun to play. So, those are the two keys: time to master and fun to play. True, complexity can be used to increase the time to master, but it's all worthless if the game isn't fun to play.
Interestingly, the new Japanese-English dictionary released for the DS supports written text input. It works better for inputting Japanese hiragana, since those characters have a set stroke order, but it does Roman letters too. Anyhow, it proves that it can be done, which is interesting in itself. My question is if the next version of Pictochat or whatever will incorporate this code.
Good point, but Mac hardware is "better"? Powermac 12" v. some cheap-o taiwan windows laptop? No comparison.
In fairness to Taiwan, my PowerBook 12" was made there too. The difference between Apple and the cheap-o Windows laptop, is that Apple is quality and cheap-o is not. The difference isn't related to country of origin however.
I got modded troll on my reply to the grandparent post, but for real-- burn a Linux Live CD. You put it into your CD tray, reset and then BOOM, you've got web access with guaranteed 100% no key loggers. And you can use your keyboard and everything whee! And, as a super bonus, you can erase all those pesky files that Windows won't let you erase because they're "in use" by the spyware that installed them. And when you get sick of Linux, just eject the CD, press reset and you can go back to life as normal. And it only costs you as much as one blank CD. It's an easy solution to the spyware problem.
Sometimes in Japan, you'll go to a temple and a sign will say in English, "Take off your shoes," and in Japanese... nothing, because Japanese people know to take their shoes off inside temples.
However, before you do online banking, I would recommend you have both antivirus and firewall programs active and run anti-spyware programs at least once a day to keep out keystroke loggers.
Or you could use an OS that's secure enough that you don't have to worry about software installed with your permission.
Seriously, if you're too cheap to buy a Mac Mini, you can at least burn a Linux Live CD. Using that, every time you reset your computer all unauthorized software is removed, 100% guaranteed.
Windows 95 did not come with a web browser at all. Internet Explorer 1 was released along with the Plus! pack in August '95 though. By November, IE 2 was already out of the gate. Check it.
FWIW, I thought IE3 was decent, but not quite as good as Netscape. IE4, however, was better, and that was the end of Navigator.
There's a term for expecting people to hover over every item on the page: "mystery meat." You never know what you're gonna get until it's in your mouth.
I'm replying to myself, but here's a good Wiki quote about it:
"Under PAT 224, several of the surveillance portions (200 level sections) of the PATRIOT Act will expire on December 31, 2005. In a June 9, 2005 speech, President George W. Bush called upon Congress to permanently renew these sections. It is important to note that this sunset provision excludes investigations that began before the expiration date. Those investigations may continue with the original PATRIOT Act's full powers."
So yeah, some stuff expires. But apparently not all of it. It's a damn confusing act. Which is one of it's biggest problems.
Um... Is anyone in this thread aware that the PATRIOT Act came with a 5 year expiration date? If we just sit on our hands for another year-- boom, no more PATRIOT Act. Problem solved. The time limit is part of how they sold it to Congress so easily. Everyone was just like, "Hmm, sounds good. We were just attacked. And hey, it's just 5 years. We should be able to figure who did this by then." The time limit is also why the Bush administration has been pushing for a PATRIOT Act II since even before the Iraq War. Bush doesn't want to lose all his cool new ways to break the constitution, so they've been trying to get it extend for a while.
This is I think is part of the problem with PA: No one, for or against, knows what the hell it is or what's in it. My gut feeling is that some loosening of the rules after 9-11 was warranted, but the PA went too far. But can I go chapter and verse on all the problems with PA? Hell no. And probably 99% of the people commenting on this article can either. That's why it's so hard to get an honest debate about it.
What you say sounds all well and good, but why doesn't someone do it? None of what you described should take more than a couple years for a NASA team to do. I'm sort of just kidding about the whole Saturn V thing, but on the other hand, it can't really be that hard to build a moon rocket now that we know how they're built, can it?
True, but Kirby: Cursed Canvas teaches us that the future isn't all bleak. I would expect developers to continue pumping out a large number of 2D games for the DS until its successor comes along. True, the DS can do 3D better than the N64, but I think developers are highly attracted by the lower development costs offered by 2D. If at least a few people keep buying it, they'll keep making it.
I have a business idea, but no real interest in making it work. So, I'm putting it up on slashdot in the hopes that someone else will. Here we go:
IM chatbots as the interface to delivery services.
So, for example, I IM "PizzaDude500" on AIM.
Me: hey PD: Hi, this is Pizza Dude, would you like to hear our specials for today? Me: ok PD: We have a large one topic for $10. Or you can order from the menu. Me: menu PD: [spits out a menu with prices] Me: large calzone PD: Is that all? Me: yeah PD: The total is $8.21. Can I have your zipcode? Me: 55555 PD: You're in Anytown, Texas. Your nearest Pizza Dude is at 123 Easy Street, correct? Me: y PD: Please enter your address and phone number, and we'll forward your order to the store. Me: 543 Elm Street, 555-5555 PD: Do you want me to remember your address in the future? Me: ok PD: I've sent your order to the store, the pizza should arrive by 6:00pm. Thanks for ordering from Pizza Dude.
Meanwhile, in the pizza shop, a printer spits out a sheet with the order. If a person gets lost in the menu, they can also ask to chat directly with someone at the store, but that will take longer than chatting with a bot, of course. The beauty part is the second time you order:
Me: large, pepperoni PD: The subtotal is $12.11. Is that all? Me: yeah PD: Should I have the shop at 123 Easy St. send it to your address at 543 Elm Street? Me: y PD: Your order will be there by 7:30pm. Thanks for ordering from Pizza Dude.
The KDE project has goals other than making a yet another open source web browser, but unlike Apple it doesn't have a butt load of cash in the bank. Apple is offering to pay for the continued development of the web browser, so that KDE can focus its efforts on the rest of the project. I say, it would be best for the KDE project to accept free labor when it's given to them, and use the freed up resources to do other things. You make it sound like the ideal would be for the KDE team to do everything and for Apple to do nothing, but in fact, that's just the opposite of the ideal. The KDE team needs to be lazier, so that they can spend more time on more important projects (like making Linux on the Desktop better than OS X on the Desktop) and less time on tedious stuff that they can trick Big Corporations into doing for them.
But don't they have that option now? If they would just join forces with Apple, they could devote their resources to making KDE better, and just leave all the refactoring work on Konqueror to Apple's paid lackeys. Then, if in the future Apple starts slacking off, then they can come back in and try to rework it from what's left over. The point is though, there's no need for the KDE team to make a redundant copy of Apple's work, if Apple is determined to stay in the browser game for the foreseeable future...
Wow, I mean... That has got to be the gayest thing I've heard, evar. Did you find it written on a Lisa Frank inspirational day calendar or just... Wow.
I'm trying to figure out what it could possible mean, but I keep almost cracking up, and I'm supposed to be at work... Just wow.
I gotta say, I'm a big fan of the old cut'n'paste trolls, and this one in particular is nice. Quite literally, LOL. I'm tempted to throw a "my mac sux"-> my tats suck on to the fire, but I guess I'll leave it alone for now.
Well played, oh most cowardly of anonymouses. Definitely a funny c'n'p.
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For a lot of people, the reason to make a Knoppix disc is to use it on other people's computers. If it was your computer, you'd just install Linux instead of using a disc, right? Now, if you're using someone else's computer, and then you probably don't have time to download and install a bunch of packages. Therefore, the more packages you can bring with you, the better, since you won't have to waste time retrieving them from the internet.
Makes sense to me.
Kiss your browser goodbye: The radical future of media beyond the Web.
A) Java is open in that sense, but if you try to distribute an extended version Java yourself, Sun won't approve of it. So, you can do what you want, but this is asking a lot of work from one set of developers.
B) Again, writing your own widgets is too much to ask of average developers.
C) JNI is, by definition, not Java. So, you're saying, "Java is good. Just combine it with some not-Java." JNI has its place, but it exists to plug the holes in Java, not as an all purpose excuse for its failings.
D) I used Eclipse two years ago. It didn't seem very Windows-like at the time. Has it changed?
The problem with Java (especially as a GUI) is that it works acceptably everywhere and works spectacularly nowhere. Since Java isn't open source, and since there is no one platform for which it's targeted, Java is basically a mish-mash of UI features and whatnot: Jack of all trades and master of none. No one can go back and make it closely match the look and feel of a particular OS, since it isn't open source, and Sun hasn't made it match any one OS, since there's no one OS where it thrives.
So, were NeoOffice written in Java, yes it would have been ported much faster on the one hand, but on the other hand, it would never have a chance to become more than a port. Java applications (at least pure Java programs) always seem like ports, even on their originating OS.
Java is great for backend stuff where you're not sure what kind of hardware you want to run on, but for GUI, it's a compromise that leaves everyone slightly unhappy.
Which is great until a blue screen of death results in the execution of your grandparents and a murderer getting early Social Security.
So are you claiming that if someone put out good software no one would buy it? And you think that with software patents, people would suddenly have a reason to make only "professional grade" software?
Here's a clue: patents allow for a limited time monopoly, so as to spur innovation. The software industry has innovation sprouting out its ass. It has entirely too much innovation. That's your whole problem with software, right? People are trying so hard to do new stuff, that they never bother to do existing stuff correctly. So why do we need to implement a mechanism that is designed to spur innovation? Meanwhile, adding patents allows for monopolies. Now, will this have a good effect or a bad effect. Hmm, let's examine common monopolies and find out:
* Telephone service before the break up of AT&T: expensive, shitty
* Telephone service since the end of the monopoly: confusing, but a lot cheaper and with better service
* Local cable companies: expensive, send repair men when they feel like (ie. when you're at work)
* Operating systems: Windows is basically crap. It used to be unstable crap, but XP fixed that, making it stable crap. Apple was crap between System 7 and OS X.
The only monopoly I can think of that hasn't lead to worse service are the electric companies, and that's only because they do no services to speak of. They just make sure the electricity is always going to your house, and if it gets cut off by a storm, they send someone to fix it so that they can start billing you again ASAP.
So why do we need software patents again? Oh yeah, so that we can get the joys of less competition. Whee!
Complex can be a good thing, but it really depends on the case. I played Tetris yesterday for the approximately one billionth time. In fact, I've been playing Tetris on and off for more than ten years now. But I don't think anyone could argue that Tetris is very complex at all. Tetris doesn't succeed in spite of its simplicity, but because of it. Tetris is a game that you can understand instantly, but take years to master. But not only does it take a long time to master, it's fun to play. So, those are the two keys: time to master and fun to play. True, complexity can be used to increase the time to master, but it's all worthless if the game isn't fun to play.
Interestingly, the new Japanese-English dictionary released for the DS supports written text input. It works better for inputting Japanese hiragana, since those characters have a set stroke order, but it does Roman letters too. Anyhow, it proves that it can be done, which is interesting in itself. My question is if the next version of Pictochat or whatever will incorporate this code.
Good point, but Mac hardware is "better"? Powermac 12" v. some cheap-o taiwan windows laptop? No comparison.
In fairness to Taiwan, my PowerBook 12" was made there too. The difference between Apple and the cheap-o Windows laptop, is that Apple is quality and cheap-o is not. The difference isn't related to country of origin however.
I got modded troll on my reply to the grandparent post, but for real-- burn a Linux Live CD. You put it into your CD tray, reset and then BOOM, you've got web access with guaranteed 100% no key loggers. And you can use your keyboard and everything whee! And, as a super bonus, you can erase all those pesky files that Windows won't let you erase because they're "in use" by the spyware that installed them. And when you get sick of Linux, just eject the CD, press reset and you can go back to life as normal. And it only costs you as much as one blank CD. It's an easy solution to the spyware problem.
Sometimes in Japan, you'll go to a temple and a sign will say in English, "Take off your shoes," and in Japanese ... nothing, because Japanese people know to take their shoes off inside temples.
Or you could use an OS that's secure enough that you don't have to worry about software installed with your permission.
Seriously, if you're too cheap to buy a Mac Mini, you can at least burn a Linux Live CD. Using that, every time you reset your computer all unauthorized software is removed, 100% guaranteed.
Windows 95 did not come with a web browser at all. Internet Explorer 1 was released along with the Plus! pack in August '95 though. By November, IE 2 was already out of the gate. Check it.
FWIW, I thought IE3 was decent, but not quite as good as Netscape. IE4, however, was better, and that was the end of Navigator.
There's a term for expecting people to hover over every item on the page: "mystery meat." You never know what you're gonna get until it's in your mouth.
It's bad web design, plain and simple.
I agree with one and two completely. Three is too broad to say anything about.
I'm replying to myself, but here's a good Wiki quote about it:
"Under PAT 224, several of the surveillance portions (200 level sections) of the PATRIOT Act will expire on December 31, 2005. In a June 9, 2005 speech, President George W. Bush called upon Congress to permanently renew these sections.
It is important to note that this sunset provision excludes investigations that began before the expiration date. Those investigations may continue with the original PATRIOT Act's full powers."
So yeah, some stuff expires. But apparently not all of it. It's a damn confusing act. Which is one of it's biggest problems.
Um... Is anyone in this thread aware that the PATRIOT Act came with a 5 year expiration date? If we just sit on our hands for another year-- boom, no more PATRIOT Act. Problem solved. The time limit is part of how they sold it to Congress so easily. Everyone was just like, "Hmm, sounds good. We were just attacked. And hey, it's just 5 years. We should be able to figure who did this by then." The time limit is also why the Bush administration has been pushing for a PATRIOT Act II since even before the Iraq War. Bush doesn't want to lose all his cool new ways to break the constitution, so they've been trying to get it extend for a while.
This is I think is part of the problem with PA: No one, for or against, knows what the hell it is or what's in it. My gut feeling is that some loosening of the rules after 9-11 was warranted, but the PA went too far. But can I go chapter and verse on all the problems with PA? Hell no. And probably 99% of the people commenting on this article can either. That's why it's so hard to get an honest debate about it.
What you say sounds all well and good, but why doesn't someone do it? None of what you described should take more than a couple years for a NASA team to do. I'm sort of just kidding about the whole Saturn V thing, but on the other hand, it can't really be that hard to build a moon rocket now that we know how they're built, can it?
True, but Kirby: Cursed Canvas teaches us that the future isn't all bleak. I would expect developers to continue pumping out a large number of 2D games for the DS until its successor comes along. True, the DS can do 3D better than the N64, but I think developers are highly attracted by the lower development costs offered by 2D. If at least a few people keep buying it, they'll keep making it.
Kennedy: "We will go to the moon in this decade..."
NASA today: "We will go to the moon in this decade... at the earliest. Maybe. But hey, don't hold your breath."
For real, how can it possibly take longer to do it again, if we already did it before? The R&D phase is over. We know what to do.
1) Build Saturn V
2) Put spaceship on top
3) MTV Flag
What, did we lose the Saturn blueprint or something?
I have a business idea, but no real interest in making it work. So, I'm putting it up on slashdot in the hopes that someone else will. Here we go:
IM chatbots as the interface to delivery services.
So, for example, I IM "PizzaDude500" on AIM.
Me: hey
PD: Hi, this is Pizza Dude, would you like to hear our specials for today?
Me: ok
PD: We have a large one topic for $10. Or you can order from the menu.
Me: menu
PD: [spits out a menu with prices]
Me: large calzone
PD: Is that all?
Me: yeah
PD: The total is $8.21. Can I have your zipcode?
Me: 55555
PD: You're in Anytown, Texas. Your nearest Pizza Dude is at 123 Easy Street, correct?
Me: y
PD: Please enter your address and phone number, and we'll forward your order to the store.
Me: 543 Elm Street, 555-5555
PD: Do you want me to remember your address in the future?
Me: ok
PD: I've sent your order to the store, the pizza should arrive by 6:00pm. Thanks for ordering from Pizza Dude.
Meanwhile, in the pizza shop, a printer spits out a sheet with the order. If a person gets lost in the menu, they can also ask to chat directly with someone at the store, but that will take longer than chatting with a bot, of course. The beauty part is the second time you order:
Me: large, pepperoni
PD: The subtotal is $12.11. Is that all?
Me: yeah
PD: Should I have the shop at 123 Easy St. send it to your address at 543 Elm Street?
Me: y
PD: Your order will be there by 7:30pm. Thanks for ordering from Pizza Dude.
The KDE project has goals other than making a yet another open source web browser, but unlike Apple it doesn't have a butt load of cash in the bank. Apple is offering to pay for the continued development of the web browser, so that KDE can focus its efforts on the rest of the project. I say, it would be best for the KDE project to accept free labor when it's given to them, and use the freed up resources to do other things. You make it sound like the ideal would be for the KDE team to do everything and for Apple to do nothing, but in fact, that's just the opposite of the ideal. The KDE team needs to be lazier, so that they can spend more time on more important projects (like making Linux on the Desktop better than OS X on the Desktop) and less time on tedious stuff that they can trick Big Corporations into doing for them.
But don't they have that option now? If they would just join forces with Apple, they could devote their resources to making KDE better, and just leave all the refactoring work on Konqueror to Apple's paid lackeys. Then, if in the future Apple starts slacking off, then they can come back in and try to rework it from what's left over. The point is though, there's no need for the KDE team to make a redundant copy of Apple's work, if Apple is determined to stay in the browser game for the foreseeable future...
Wow, I mean... That has got to be the gayest thing I've heard, evar. Did you find it written on a Lisa Frank inspirational day calendar or just... Wow.
I'm trying to figure out what it could possible mean, but I keep almost cracking up, and I'm supposed to be at work... Just wow.
I gotta say, I'm a big fan of the old cut'n'paste trolls, and this one in particular is nice. Quite literally, LOL. I'm tempted to throw a "my mac sux"-> my tats suck on to the fire, but I guess I'll leave it alone for now.
Well played, oh most cowardly of anonymouses. Definitely a funny c'n'p.