AT&T is now using HSDPA, which is significantly faster than 1xRTT, EDGE, GPRS, etc. and on par with EV-DO. Much of the network supports it, with a great number of deployments in the past few years. Also, compared to Sprint, AT&T has more 3G coverage in my market (out of the 4 3G networks here, Sprint, Alltel and Verizon EV-DO and Cingular HSDPA, only Verizon and Cingular bother to cover outlying areas).
The worst major carrier (digital broadband wise) is T-Mobile.
minimal in the case of satellite, and other DVRs will be much more widely available and therefore cheaper for digital TV soon enough (since March, all TV tuners have to include an ATSC tuner, and with CableCard/OCAP requirements, there will be more competition in the DVR market soon).
setup
minimal in the case of satellite (they do it), minimal and one-time-only in the case of over-the-air digital transmissions (just a channel scan).
subscription
EPG (electronic program guide) data is included for free with all satellite or over-the-air broadcasts. If you still have to pay to use DVR service with any company, and you're not renting the hardware, you're getting ripped off
And DVR doesn't get rid of the ads that are starting to pop up, such as the image getting pushed over or up for the ad.
Relevance? They don't interrupt the program itself, so they don't waste any time.
What? Once you get an antenna installed (a few minutes for an indoor antenna, a few hours for an outdoor one), you're done. If you installed a decent antenna, say, 40 years ago, you'll never have to touch it again unless it gets misaligned or hit by lightning (which can happen with satellite dishes as well). With satellite or cable they'll install it for free because they'll make up for it with monthly revenue.
While time does not cost nothing, I would imagine that for most people the few hours it would take to install an intenna or pay someone else to do it is a lot less than the $600+ per year one may pay for satellite service.
On a service above, to get the shows I like (all 3 CSI's, Heroes, House, Bones, Jericho, Smallville * approx 22 episodes each per season = 176 episodes) for approx $352.
Most of those are available for free over the air.
No one ships defective media on purpose and the way that licensing is implemented isn't just amateur hour anymore.
Games on CD or DVD use copy protection schemes that often rely on areas of the disc that would often be ignored or skipped or certain sectors that are intentionally burned as if they are "bad".
This isn't much different than any other modern OS. They all have strict separation of user/kernel code and libaries at a given point. OS X and Windows both have clearly defined subsystems (Win32/Posix/.NET3?, Cocoa/BSD/etc.)
and let's see what you'd have if you ran VMware in Linux - JavaScript running on some browser - some browser running on Qt/Gtk and libc - Qt/Gtk running on an X server - X server and some browser running on libc - libc running on some unixlike kernel - some unixlike kernel running on VMware - VMware running on libc, the kernel, and Gtk - Gtk running on an X server - X server running on libc - libc running on some unixlike kernel - some unixlike kernel running on real hardware
Mono's ASP.NET implementation does not support working as CGI (for good reason). It sounds pretty unambigous to me. That is, it won't take the page arguments from environment variables and then output HTML over stdout. It operates using its own HTTP server or special MonoApache protocol, similar to Java servlets.
CGI is unsuitable for any high-performance website, anyway.
Mono's ASP.NET implementation does not support working as CGI (for good reason). When someone refers to Mono or.NET in this context they are usually referring to ASP.NET.
If you tried using Mono/C# in a real world situation you'd find that it would be horrible because it would run as a CGI. The initialization for it would kill the server.
I don't think there's many high-perormance websites out there that work using forking (standard CGI). In fact, IIRC Mono doesn't even support working as CGI, and I'm pretty sure Java doesn't as well. They only support running via an external process server (much like Java), e.g. via FastCGI, local proxying, or a special webserver/process server interface. (I personally like this design much better than mod_php/mod_perl/mod_* or CGI for all but the most trivial of pages.)
It makes security easier and it means that you don't have to use the Apache prefork process model (if you use Apache).
Or perhaps even build an interpreter into the web server itself (mod_mono).
mod_mono actually just sends the request to a mod_mono_server, which is a special version of the Mono ASP.NET web server that has a special interface.
mod_mono's advantage is the ability to manage the mod_mono_server processes for you, while using standard HTTP proxying would require the user to start the process on their own.
It is pretty similar to server-side Java.
FastCGI support for Mono would be nice so that non-Apache servers could be used without having to manage your own processes.
In PHP's defense, how does performance compare once some sort of accelerator is involved? Are those fancy output caching engines or do they actually precompile/cache the code or something like that?
Additionally: with the decryption algorithim and the keys it's not tough to decrypt TV. Getting the keys is often the hard part. Having open hardware (e.g. opensource receivers or PCI cards) make things a lot easier too. I would guess that that's the primary reason why DirecTV is still secure.
Satellite TV is extremely secure and has never really been cracked successfully. Most cracks involve emulating a smartcard, which is easy since the smartcards still use early 80s technology. Even then, nobody has really done a crack that wasn't fixed within a week.
Er, sure they have... satellite decryption does emulate the access mechanism but it works pretty well for most access mechanisms that have been reverse engineered. (not all have.) In Europe most DVB systems use a PCMCIA card (the CAM IIRC) to do the decryption itself, and those cards have smartcard slots in them that hold subscriber information. I think they call it CAM/CI. Sometimes the decryption is integrated into the decoder (making it an IRD or Integrated Receiver Decoder), thereby requiring only a smartcard.
The decryption is usually emulated on hacked receivers, on a PC as a filter between the hardware itself and the recording/playing software, or as a programmable CAM.
Many times the only way they can successfully stop these hacks is by replacing the older technology (software updates, new smartcards, or new CAMs/receivers). Otherwise they can only try to outsmart them for a week or so by messing with the keys.
There are 5 major nationwide networks. (Sprint Nextel still maintains the Nextel iDEN network along with the CDMA2000 network). You can purchase service directly from the companies themselves or from virtual operators.
Plans can be found for $30 if you prefer postpaid service -- see Sprint Employee Referral Offer, and T-Mobile's cheapest.
Prepaid service is available per-minute on nearly all providers and there is an abundance of prepaid VNOs. T-Mobile is reasonable and doesn't have Virgin Mobile-style "hip" branding". Cingular provides prepaid plans starting at $30 per month/refill that also allow you to get additional services in packages (text messaging, unlimited data). Alltel provides prepaid at $0.75/day that allows unlimited calls to a "favorite" number, which could be a VoIP line that allows you to make calls through it and forwards calls to your phone.
There are also many regional/local networks. Alltel covers a lot of the South and Midwest and will roam on Verizon/Sprint for free on national plans.
Many cities have local networks that provide unlimited calling, but their phones only work within that city or a few cities.
While I was on the phone to them I was able to get my account flagged for no limiting, port25 open, and unlock gain and return loss adjustment on my modem.
Besides opening up port 25, what all did you achieve by doing that? In other words what limiting did you get removed and what does unlocking those adjuments give you?
But comparing based on all features included only makes sense for consumers if they are really interested in using all the features. While that may apply to you, it doesn't apply to many others - such as those without a HDTV or those that think upscaled DVDs look just fine.
I get by with my HTPC with a Intel GMA 900 and a Pentium M 760 (2.0GHz). The entire system when idle uses anywhere from 25% to 150% less power than a mid to upper level video card alone. It's played everything I've thrown at it so far; the most advanced thing has been a BBC 1080p H264 demo video. I imagine that it should handle MPEG2 and VC-1 1080p HD-DVD and Blu-ray just fine; not so sure about H264.
Actually I've heard that the people behind CableCard have strict requirements and testing for CableCard devices. The entire device needs to be certified; which means in the case of a computer, the entire system needs to be certified.
Perhaps there will someday be a market for black-market CableCard tuners from retail HTPCs.
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AT&T is now using HSDPA, which is significantly faster than 1xRTT, EDGE, GPRS, etc. and on par with EV-DO. Much of the network supports it, with a great number of deployments in the past few years. Also, compared to Sprint, AT&T has more 3G coverage in my market (out of the 4 3G networks here, Sprint, Alltel and Verizon EV-DO and Cingular HSDPA, only Verizon and Cingular bother to cover outlying areas).
The worst major carrier (digital broadband wise) is T-Mobile.
minimal in the case of satellite, and other DVRs will be much more widely available and therefore cheaper for digital TV soon enough (since March, all TV tuners have to include an ATSC tuner, and with CableCard/OCAP requirements, there will be more competition in the DVR market soon).
minimal in the case of satellite (they do it), minimal and one-time-only in the case of over-the-air digital transmissions (just a channel scan).
EPG (electronic program guide) data is included for free with all satellite or over-the-air broadcasts. If you still have to pay to use DVR service with any company, and you're not renting the hardware, you're getting ripped off
Relevance? They don't interrupt the program itself, so they don't waste any time.
You get ads on satellite as well. But with either and a decent DVR, you don't have to waste more than a few seconds per ad...
What? Once you get an antenna installed (a few minutes for an indoor antenna, a few hours for an outdoor one), you're done. If you installed a decent antenna, say, 40 years ago, you'll never have to touch it again unless it gets misaligned or hit by lightning (which can happen with satellite dishes as well). With satellite or cable they'll install it for free because they'll make up for it with monthly revenue.
While time does not cost nothing, I would imagine that for most people the few hours it would take to install an intenna or pay someone else to do it is a lot less than the $600+ per year one may pay for satellite service.
Most of those are available for free over the air.
What conflicts?
There is no conflict between running CDDL code in the kernel and some userland programs and GPL code elsewhere.
Games on CD or DVD use copy protection schemes that often rely on areas of the disc that would often be ignored or skipped or certain sectors that are intentionally burned as if they are "bad".
BrandZ isn't for Linux... it is Linux, running in a Solaris Zone.
If you want a GNU-like system for Solaris, try out Nexenta
I know all of that. I was replacing the GP's very flawed windows example with Linux to point out the ridiculousness.
IE does not run on .NET.
This isn't much different than any other modern OS. They all have strict separation of user/kernel code and libaries at a given point. OS X and Windows both have clearly defined subsystems (Win32/Posix/.NET3?, Cocoa/BSD/etc.)
and let's see what you'd have if you ran VMware in Linux
- JavaScript running on some browser
- some browser running on Qt/Gtk and libc
- Qt/Gtk running on an X server
- X server and some browser running on libc
- libc running on some unixlike kernel
- some unixlike kernel running on VMware
- VMware running on libc, the kernel, and Gtk
- Gtk running on an X server
- X server running on libc
- libc running on some unixlike kernel
- some unixlike kernel running on real hardware
Mono's ASP.NET implementation does not support working as CGI (for good reason). It sounds pretty unambigous to me. That is, it won't take the page arguments from environment variables and then output HTML over stdout. It operates using its own HTTP server or special MonoApache protocol, similar to Java servlets.
CGI is unsuitable for any high-performance website, anyway.
Mono's ASP.NET implementation does not support working as CGI (for good reason). When someone refers to Mono or .NET in this context they are usually referring to ASP.NET.
I don't think there's many high-perormance websites out there that work using forking (standard CGI). In fact, IIRC Mono doesn't even support working as CGI, and I'm pretty sure Java doesn't as well. They only support running via an external process server (much like Java), e.g. via FastCGI, local proxying, or a special webserver/process server interface. (I personally like this design much better than mod_php/mod_perl/mod_* or CGI for all but the most trivial of pages.)
It makes security easier and it means that you don't have to use the Apache prefork process model (if you use Apache).
mod_mono actually just sends the request to a mod_mono_server, which is a special version of the Mono ASP.NET web server that has a special interface.
mod_mono's advantage is the ability to manage the mod_mono_server processes for you, while using standard HTTP proxying would require the user to start the process on their own.
It is pretty similar to server-side Java.
FastCGI support for Mono would be nice so that non-Apache servers could be used without having to manage your own processes.
That's pretty damning... If C# and Mono are faster, I can only imagine that MS's CLR would be even faster. Java's results vs. PHP are very similar.
Perl is usually better as well, as is Python, Tcl, etc.
In PHP's defense, how does performance compare once some sort of accelerator is involved? Are those fancy output caching engines or do they actually precompile/cache the code or something like that?
Additionally: with the decryption algorithim and the keys it's not tough to decrypt TV. Getting the keys is often the hard part. Having open hardware (e.g. opensource receivers or PCI cards) make things a lot easier too. I would guess that that's the primary reason why DirecTV is still secure.
Er, sure they have... satellite decryption does emulate the access mechanism but it works pretty well for most access mechanisms that have been reverse engineered. (not all have.) In Europe most DVB systems use a PCMCIA card (the CAM IIRC) to do the decryption itself, and those cards have smartcard slots in them that hold subscriber information. I think they call it CAM/CI. Sometimes the decryption is integrated into the decoder (making it an IRD or Integrated Receiver Decoder), thereby requiring only a smartcard.
The decryption is usually emulated on hacked receivers, on a PC as a filter between the hardware itself and the recording/playing software, or as a programmable CAM.
Many times the only way they can successfully stop these hacks is by replacing the older technology (software updates, new smartcards, or new CAMs/receivers). Otherwise they can only try to outsmart them for a week or so by messing with the keys.
There are 5 major nationwide networks. (Sprint Nextel still maintains the Nextel iDEN network along with the CDMA2000 network).
You can purchase service directly from the companies themselves or from virtual operators.
Plans can be found for $30 if you prefer postpaid service -- see Sprint Employee Referral Offer, and T-Mobile's cheapest.
Prepaid service is available per-minute on nearly all providers and there is an abundance of prepaid VNOs. T-Mobile is reasonable and doesn't have Virgin Mobile-style "hip" branding". Cingular provides prepaid plans starting at $30 per month/refill that also allow you to get additional services in packages (text messaging, unlimited data). Alltel provides prepaid at $0.75/day that allows unlimited calls to a "favorite" number, which could be a VoIP line that allows you to make calls through it and forwards calls to your phone.
There are also many regional/local networks. Alltel covers a lot of the South and Midwest and will roam on Verizon/Sprint for free on national plans.
Many cities have local networks that provide unlimited calling, but their phones only work within that city or a few cities.
Besides opening up port 25, what all did you achieve by doing that? In other words what limiting did you get removed and what does unlocking those adjuments give you?
FWIW AT&T blocks port 25 as well (on dynamic IP connections) but will remove the block at the request of the user.
Road Runner doesn't care. Downloading a few patches and ISOs isn't going to get you noticed and neither will using large amounts of bandwidth for P2P.
I use AT&T and have transferred a few terabytes per year since 2002.
But comparing based on all features included only makes sense for consumers if they are really interested in using all the features. While that may apply to you, it doesn't apply to many others - such as those without a HDTV or those that think upscaled DVDs look just fine.
I get by with my HTPC with a Intel GMA 900 and a Pentium M 760 (2.0GHz). The entire system when idle uses anywhere from 25% to 150% less power than a mid to upper level video card alone. It's played everything I've thrown at it so far; the most advanced thing has been a BBC 1080p H264 demo video. I imagine that it should handle MPEG2 and VC-1 1080p HD-DVD and Blu-ray just fine; not so sure about H264.
Actually I've heard that the people behind CableCard have strict requirements and testing for CableCard devices. The entire device needs to be certified; which means in the case of a computer, the entire system needs to be certified.
Perhaps there will someday be a market for black-market CableCard tuners from retail HTPCs.