Here's a compromise for AT&T: serve everyone as a utility or common carrier, but offer an optional alternative as an Online Service Provider, like AOL or Compuserve back in the day. Customers can choose which they prefer, with a price drop for the latter due to advertising and corporate subsidy.
If they truly believe that this sort of metering and customer-side QOS control is what their customer base wants, let them have it as an optional service and see just how many people sign up.
The first few difficulty levels of each of the Trials Xbox Live Arcade games are challenging, but fun. Then all of a sudden, you're expected to be able to vary the gravitational constant of the universe. How does anyone actually work through and enjoy that sort of difficulty?
Didn't have to register or nuthin'. I even went to the main page and checked other articles... all viewable.
Glad to see they've abandoned their all or nothing policies. Though I use adblock, I left all ads intact.
Nice to see that the NY Times have finally listened to the masses, and removed the requirement to register, when you view most content.
It sure would be handy if I could get at the list of contacts on my phone, when I'm not near my phone... since the webserver runs on the phone, it shouldn't be too difficult to have it spit back the data that's in there.
As for on-the-go uses for your own webserver, well for starters, you could host your own start page, (ala google.com/ig or start.com) right on the phone. In Canada, the initial home page for most of our cell providers suck ass. This could also keep your bandwidth costs down; not needing to download the contents of your provider's crappy cell phone portal page.
Of course, once a webserver is running, the door is then open to various scripting languages. Have you seen all of what's available in the world of Python?
As per the MySpace Terms and Conditions:
MySpace.com reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject, refuse to post or remove any posting (including email) by you, or to restrict, suspend, or terminate your access to all or any part of the Website and/or Services at any time, for any or no reason, with or without prior notice, and without liability.
For people to be irate about this... it'd be the same as if I were angry with the freeipods.com people for not outright providing me with a free ipod video. Read the fine print, kiddies...
I've worked for both a mom and pop video rental shop as well as a franchised videogame store. All of the slashdotters' suggestions about creating a warm, friendly, fun place (staffed with knowledgeable folks) to congregate was right on the mark. That helps in spades, with getting people in the store.
The snack/coffee bar is not a bad idea either. Although during busy periods, you'll need to staff someone just for that task. There's nothing worse than running around filling a parent's xmas wishlist while manning the phones and making mochas and muffins... xmas is busy enough.
Ah yes, digressing to my original point - rentals. Believe it or not, the lackluster video shops of the world still don't have this marked covered. Sure, they'll have 50 bajillion copies of the AAA titles, but those hardcore RPG fans, (a key customer of mom and pop shops) can seldom find what they're looking for there.
You can be more flexible than big chains as well, in that you can set up rental incentives such as bundles, (5 games, 5 days, 5 bucks) or aging game discounts. Plus, rentals keep you in a steady churn of used copies of games to sell, which have already made all of their dollar value back, (or more, generally speaking).
Because you're a series of small shops, it's not too difficult to drum up good word of mouth. When you open your doors and have a comfy zone for folks to come in and play for free, you're bound to gain a core group of hangabouts. These are folks who may be 'experts' but don't really buy all that often. Believe it or not, these are some of your most valuable assets. Recruit the cleaner of these folks to be expert gamer staff, and nurture the rest. These are the folks grandma asks where to go when she's spending 5k on her brood in electronics this xmas.
Good luck, and happy gaming!
Re:If I couldn't DL music from usenet...
on
RIAA Sues a Child
·
· Score: 1
SSSShhhhh..... thus far, the RIAA haven't figured out how to gain NNTP server logs, to determine who/how/what's been grabbed.
Errr, ah, I mean, yeah.
"Japanese gamers looking for the ultimate digital entertainment thrill ride and best value right out of the box may purchase an Xbox 360 system, which comes fully loaded with a 20GB detachable Xbox 360 Hard Drive for storing music, video and games, an Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, an Xbox 360 Media Remote control, an Xbox 360 Headset, a Component HD-AV Cable for connecting to component and composite television inputs, an Ethernet cable, and batteries, at 37,900 JPY."
No mention there of a 'core' system for Japan at all. Seeing as how the gaming market over there is considerably more mature/savvy, I guess MS didn't see the need to try to bring in the low-dollar/n00b customer into the fold.
I'd be surprised if MS keeps both units active here for long. I mean, once the first price drop hits, the non-crippled system would be affordable for all. The more of those systems that are out there, the better use of that installed base game publishers can make.
MS' 360 philosophy:
Step 1 - collect underpants, (in high-def wherever possible
Step 2 - ???????
Step 3 - Profit!
As has been pointed out several times on/., BB doesn't censor movies themselves. Rather, when faced with a choice from the movie distribution house between an unrated or more family-friendly version of a film, they'll go for that.
Since few other movie retailers/rental outlets that go for the 'family friendly' versions of films, it often appears as though BB has their own version.
Slashdot Mirror
Here's a compromise for AT&T: serve everyone as a utility or common carrier, but offer an optional alternative as an Online Service Provider, like AOL or Compuserve back in the day. Customers can choose which they prefer, with a price drop for the latter due to advertising and corporate subsidy. If they truly believe that this sort of metering and customer-side QOS control is what their customer base wants, let them have it as an optional service and see just how many people sign up.
The first few difficulty levels of each of the Trials Xbox Live Arcade games are challenging, but fun. Then all of a sudden, you're expected to be able to vary the gravitational constant of the universe. How does anyone actually work through and enjoy that sort of difficulty?
Unfortunately, however, steamed hams don't cook well in arctic Europe.
Nope, I'm not using bugmenot, nor have I ever registered. The links still exist in the top right to register or login. Bizarre...
Didn't have to register or nuthin'. I even went to the main page and checked other articles... all viewable. Glad to see they've abandoned their all or nothing policies. Though I use adblock, I left all ads intact. Nice to see that the NY Times have finally listened to the masses, and removed the requirement to register, when you view most content.
It sure would be handy if I could get at the list of contacts on my phone, when I'm not near my phone... since the webserver runs on the phone, it shouldn't be too difficult to have it spit back the data that's in there. As for on-the-go uses for your own webserver, well for starters, you could host your own start page, (ala google.com/ig or start.com) right on the phone. In Canada, the initial home page for most of our cell providers suck ass. This could also keep your bandwidth costs down; not needing to download the contents of your provider's crappy cell phone portal page. Of course, once a webserver is running, the door is then open to various scripting languages. Have you seen all of what's available in the world of Python?
As per the MySpace Terms and Conditions: MySpace.com reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject, refuse to post or remove any posting (including email) by you, or to restrict, suspend, or terminate your access to all or any part of the Website and/or Services at any time, for any or no reason, with or without prior notice, and without liability. For people to be irate about this... it'd be the same as if I were angry with the freeipods.com people for not outright providing me with a free ipod video. Read the fine print, kiddies...
One word - rentals.
I've worked for both a mom and pop video rental shop as well as a franchised videogame store. All of the slashdotters' suggestions about creating a warm, friendly, fun place (staffed with knowledgeable folks) to congregate was right on the mark. That helps in spades, with getting people in the store.
The snack/coffee bar is not a bad idea either. Although during busy periods, you'll need to staff someone just for that task. There's nothing worse than running around filling a parent's xmas wishlist while manning the phones and making mochas and muffins... xmas is busy enough.
Ah yes, digressing to my original point - rentals. Believe it or not, the lackluster video shops of the world still don't have this marked covered. Sure, they'll have 50 bajillion copies of the AAA titles, but those hardcore RPG fans, (a key customer of mom and pop shops) can seldom find what they're looking for there.
You can be more flexible than big chains as well, in that you can set up rental incentives such as bundles, (5 games, 5 days, 5 bucks) or aging game discounts. Plus, rentals keep you in a steady churn of used copies of games to sell, which have already made all of their dollar value back, (or more, generally speaking).
Because you're a series of small shops, it's not too difficult to drum up good word of mouth. When you open your doors and have a comfy zone for folks to come in and play for free, you're bound to gain a core group of hangabouts. These are folks who may be 'experts' but don't really buy all that often. Believe it or not, these are some of your most valuable assets. Recruit the cleaner of these folks to be expert gamer staff, and nurture the rest. These are the folks grandma asks where to go when she's spending 5k on her brood in electronics this xmas.
Good luck, and happy gaming!
SSSShhhhh..... thus far, the RIAA haven't figured out how to gain NNTP server logs, to determine who/how/what's been grabbed. Errr, ah, I mean, yeah.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4288772.stm
"Japanese gamers looking for the ultimate digital entertainment thrill ride and best value right out of the box may purchase an Xbox 360 system, which comes fully loaded with a 20GB detachable Xbox 360 Hard Drive for storing music, video and games, an Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, an Xbox 360 Media Remote control, an Xbox 360 Headset, a Component HD-AV Cable for connecting to component and composite television inputs, an Ethernet cable, and batteries, at 37,900 JPY."
No mention there of a 'core' system for Japan at all. Seeing as how the gaming market over there is considerably more mature/savvy, I guess MS didn't see the need to try to bring in the low-dollar/n00b customer into the fold.
I'd be surprised if MS keeps both units active here for long. I mean, once the first price drop hits, the non-crippled system would be affordable for all. The more of those systems that are out there, the better use of that installed base game publishers can make.
MS' 360 philosophy: Step 1 - collect underpants, (in high-def wherever possible Step 2 - ??????? Step 3 - Profit!As has been pointed out several times on /., BB doesn't censor movies themselves. Rather, when faced with a choice from the movie distribution house between an unrated or more family-friendly version of a film, they'll go for that.
Since few other movie retailers/rental outlets that go for the 'family friendly' versions of films, it often appears as though BB has their own version.