My whole problem is 'the agenda' as much as I hate using the term. That is to get as many developers on-board developing.NET apps. I cannot be sure why, other than to make our computers slower, and make programming easier. Good thing on the latter part. On the former, I have the same opinion on.NET as Java (SLOW start-up time, often slow performance).
I think the real issue at hand is why Mono cannot just be.NET (so it can run everything without porting). And the company we have to ask that to is Microsoft. However, we already know the answer: software patents.
As for managed code, I'm going to 'digest' C# using Gtk# or Qt# interface, but I am going to lean more towards Java, even if it is 'worst'. I do not mind.NET apps (nLite and vLite for example). I just wish more developers would jump on board making Mono apps instead of.NET apps, which would mean utilising Gtk# or Qt# instead of Windows.Forms. They still have not put Windows.Forms in 2.0's binary release for Windows (I installed it in Wine).
The other problem with Mono IMO is it has no intentions to solve the problem where an app launches a non-CLI app, not via Wine or any means. Mono is not really working on Wine yet either, and.NET is still a pain to install (all kinds of hacks just to get simple Windows.Forms apps to run).
It works a little bit better than.NET (with winehacks) as far as running GTK# apps and all, but you might as well use native Mono for that. I got.NET 2.0 installed with winehacks and attempted to run nLite and of course, it crashed (a framework crash, not a Wine crash). I tried with Mono 1.3 last time but that was pointless for that. Wine's project plan is to support Win32 Mono as far as I know (especially since it is free software) to run.NET apps.
The only.NET apps I use are nLite and vLite. The fact that these both launch native apps means that perhaps the interfaces (which are AFAIK Windows.Forms) will load but they will not be able to be front-ends to their Windows native apps that they are launch. This is very unfortunate and I wish Wine and Mono could work together to solve this problem. A lot of.NET apps launch non-.NET apps. They should at least make an #ifdef __WINE__ or something to allow the Exec() command or whatever it is to replace the command with a Unix command like wine . Most things will probably work okay.
I agree. Why don't these people who want to use.NET (managed code) just use Java? At least that is platform agnostic (limited to whatever platforms Java is ported on).
By the way, what about dotGNU? http://www.gnu.org/software/dotgnu/ At least that will be released under GPL and not some dual licence with GPL.
- Alt-tab to a helpful wiki-based site for game help? Can it be done on consoles?
- Game forums, still computer based? I guess that's ok...
- I assume communication will be done via voice? I shudder at the thought of hearing 11 year old immature idiots on the/trade channels. Keyboards and text chat had better be an option or I/quit.
- Can the consoles handle 50 people in the same scene at once all casting spells and generally being insane fucks? If not, give up until they can, because I don't want to see my FPS drop right when I get into the thick of things.
- My PS3 controller has ten buttons. That should be plenty to create a deep control scheme, if done right. That's the hurdle here: doing it right.
if they address this stuff I think it could be pretty sweet to be able to sit on my comfortable couch and play a MMO on my PS3. (yea yea I know, I can play an mmo on my big screen right now by using a computer anyway, but shush, we're not talking to you computer owning types here;P)
Modding community? Yes. Sony can set up a website and software that uploads. So it still requires a computer and all but they don't have to worry about the game runs. Instead they just have to worry about the creation software running on most people's computers. If Sony decides not to, then I suppose those who care will wait till PS3 is hacked to run Homebrew and 'backups' and hope that this works.
I think the second is definitely possible as long as you have a keyboard connected to your PS3.
Why not do communication via voice like every other game nowadays?
As far as I know, the PS3's processor is pretty powerful and could probably handle what you are mentioning.
Not sure what they should do about PS3 controller. I think they should put some effort in it but there will a be 'true player' trend where people use keyboard and/or mouse.
The biggest thing is that PS3 can be pushed with Sony-only MMOs. PS3 has got nothing except MGS4 for right now. They do not even get Final Fantasy exclusively since Xbox 360 will get it as well from now on. Pretty much every 'produce for Sony-only' developer contract/deal has expired, such as the GTA series and other games. I guess MGS went back to Sony-only for the time being.
Would be cool. Have an SD card slot you can replace and play whichever games you want.
As for DS games, they can be played via the M3 and R4. I'm willing to bet Nintendo put some new tech in this version to prevent those devices from working.
I agree completely. Why should I have to dumb down security just to play online? If they aren't going to put WPA, then they should put an ethernet port on it or make an adaptor. Also, their adaptor for PCs doesn't work with Linux as far as I know.
I am in disbelief over anyones the acceptance of the idea. Relinquishing control over your data to an outside source seems unfathomably retarded, no matter what kind of spin is put on it.
I agree as well. We need privacy of our data. I do use Gmail for lots of mail that I do not care that anyone reads and I do have a private account. Regardless, this is as far as I go other than a Facebook with REAL information (that only friends can view).
It makes no sense to do this 'cloud computing'. It seems like a big ploy to get everyone's information in databases and then be able to sell it all (just as credit card companies have been doing for years). Now they have more than a name, phone number, and address. They have your business's work schedule, your own schedule, your pictures, EVERYTHING that can be made digital. And for the items you have, you might be making an inventory. Well, they have that too.
I would rather have a file or hard-copy of anything over an on-line copy. This is why I tend to download torrents instead of stream videos. Almost like personal philanthropy.
Please vote no on the 'PRO-IP Act'. This act is nothing but a provision to protect businesses who cannot adapt with our 'digital age' and will not accept that they need to create new products and not 're-hash' the same content every 10 years.
Consider the film industry. What are they up to now? They keep moving formats, each time simply because one may contain a better form of DRM. Both new formats for physical media, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, have DRM (digital rights management, a scheme to protect content from easily being copied by the average person) built-in that was stronger than DVD's protection. Regardless, as citizens, we are asking for our fair use rights back more than anything else, and the repeal of the DMCA. Now the MPAA as a whole has switched to BluRay in the hopes that such DRM will keep the money 'flowing in'. I, and many others, refuse to buy such a media even if we like the content. Secondly, we refuse to watch the content at all.
Every other industry is now similar, and they are simply placing the blame on 'pirates'. EA Games has implemented a DRM scheme where we may purchase their game, but only install it a total of 5 times, and each time will be accounted for because the installations will be verified on-line. After that, especially when such a product is not on the shelves any more, what is a fully law-abiding citizen to do?
It is nothing but a waste of tax money to have more resources in the government trying to keep these failing business models alive. Good businesses would adapt to the market properly, making new products, better products, understanding the customer needs, and certainly NOT treating the customers as criminals before they have even done anything 'illegal' (this is what they assume, since they use DRM so unwittingly and hardly give consumers warning).
Most citizens are going to agree that so-called 'street pirates' should be given punishment, including myself. That is the large difference. This bill has a provision for that, but it seems as though it could easily be used for individuals who are not making any money from 'pirates', who I cannot see as doing anything that is hurting these industries.
If RIAA head Mitch Bainwol has called the legislation "music to the ears of all those who care about strengthening American creativity and jobs," he really means that it will further allow the RIAA to enforce more DRM on their potential customers, while most are far too undereducated on the topic to know what is really going on. They buy a CD that may contain protection, or download a music file from a store, but what is almost NEVER labelled clearly is that such a medium is protected from fair use (i.e. making a backup copy).
What is here to replace the failing business models? Non-failing ones. We have the Internet, a place where people can publish their music (charge money or not) without ever having to go through a major publisher such as Warner. And same for films. While many will say much of Youtube is a waste, many people are gaining recognition. Monetary? Hardly, but they are happy with being known 'out there', just as a film star celebrity.
Tell the industries who want this law passed that they need to handle their business in ways that help and strengthen their relationships with their customers, not weaken them, just because a law says that they can do so, and please vote no under all circumstances.
Thank you
Everyone else please contact your Congressman/Congresswoman! Even a sentence or two can make the difference between not writing anything at all.
Agreed. A package manager for Windows would solve many problems as far as how people get software, paid and free. I would hope Microsoft would be nice and add Firefox, Opera, Safari, and other 'stable' browsers to the list other than just their own stuff. For mail, have Windows Mail, Thunderbird, Evolution, and more. For games, have tons of FOSS games, and retail games. Microsoft could take over Valve (or whoever owns Steam) with a package manager that handles not only games, but EVERYTHING. The good thing about Windows and dependencies is you can ship your own DLL simply by putting it in the same directory as the EXE (that's not to say it will always work), but if someone made use of MSVC7 runtime version 1.02 vs 1.02.1 (made up numbers), this problem is solved (hopefully). (On Linux to achieve the same thing you link dynamic libraries to./ instead of their standard places (usr/lib). Google Earth does this.)
As much as I hate proprietary software, it still exists. So imagine, even as system administrator for a huge enterprise running Active Directory, you need 20 licences for Autodesk Inventor. Pull out Windows's package manager, tell it you need 20, pay with credit card or some form of payment, use built-in automatic deployment with other tools (some maybe made by Autodesk), and done. You need 1 licence of (LOL) Spore, go to Games and pick it, pay with your credit card, and it's installed and purchased for LIFE (hopefully). If you ever have to reinstall, you go back into package manager, enter your details and you can re-download anything you purchased before.
This would save everyone headaches. Add/Remove Programs (or now Software) has always been a mess. Some programs add to the list, some don't. Some programs use %HOME% for settings, some use the registry. Quite annoying all this. First of all, Microsoft gets rid of the registry for normal use for good (they keep it for backward compatibility, but it is deprecated officially), and they tell every developer 'your app must use %APPDATA% or %HOME% for its settings, must install to %PROGRAMFILES%, must not be hard-coded to any paths whatsoever, etc'.
I agree they should definitely box up Ubuntu (Shuttleworth has got the funds) and start selling it right alongside Windows Vista. Even I might buy it just to support more GNU/Linux/FOSS development (Ubuntu is just one facet in the whole thing). $30-$45 is definitely a reasonable price for an OS that is 50x better than Windows and with that, free upgrades (I am assuming). People may not flock immediately, but with word they will.
What are we? Children? I cannot believe anyone can be adult, hear the word promise, and consider giving it any seriousness. Microsoft or anyone should never promise anyone anything. Just my advice.
Beyond that, IE 8 is still beta so I'd wait to see the final result. I know I will not be using it much because I am on Linux 90% of the time. It better be slipstreamable though.
But that's not how it works. MS makes the "free" 'pirated' windows they got (probably from a shady computer shop bundling it with their cut-price PC, the people affected by this will mostly be the "unknowing" 'pirates') suck, so they assume that the free ubuntu must suck and/or be illegal too. I've already encountered people who think free linux is criminal because they're so brainwashed by the infofascist BSA crowd. It felt like that electrolytes scene from idiocracy when I tried to explain it - possibly my fault for not being clear enough, but they were so godawfully dumb I couldn't stand it anymore and pointed out they could buy a copy of linux from a company if they wanted, which felt like the "eventually he told them he could talk to plants" thing.
It's amazing to think that people like that exist, but I know they do. People who not necessarily respect copyrights, but think anything that is intentionally free is going to automatically 'suck'.
Since you cannot vote with your wallet, vote with your mouse. Do not download Windows, Office, or anything of the sort. It is only turning into more bloatware and on top of that now it is spying on your copy just to make sure it is legitimate. WGA's first incarnation was 'phoning home' once a day (I think now it's once a week)! Yes, you can crack away at it; someone always figures out a way around any copy prevention measure. But if you stop using pirated Microsoft software, you are getting yourself out of legal danger. Do I agree with the copyright laws much? Not really, no. But why risk?
If you stop using Microsoft anything, and start using free/open source software alternatives, you are getting yourself out of format lock-in. How many.doc/.docx files do you have? You are nearly stuck if you have a lot.
You might think cracking or a keygen is cool, and the idea of it is cool, but the effort taken to do either of those could be better spent in developing the free alternative.
Since a while ago, on Windows (long before I started using Linux fully), I moved to almost all FOSS software. At the time, Gaim (now Pidgin as you all know), OpenOffice, Firefox, Scribus, and a few more. Start small, 'pirates'. Start from Windows. Get rid of your pirated copy of Office and replace it with OpenOffice or something that can read ODF format. Get rid of Photoshop and learn GIMP. Get rid of MS Publisher and use Scribus. Get rid of Outlook and replace it with Thunderbird (either use the Thunderbird Calendar add-on or use Sunbird for calendar). Yes, there is much learning to be done and perhaps 'quirks' to get used to, but it is worth it. Then go ahead and make the switch to a free OS altogether. You'll find all those apps right there, and you'll be able to open up all your files too. Almost no FOSS Windows versions use the registry, so you can transfer all your settings files to Linux too and they will probably work (I had no issue transferring my Firefox profile to Linux when I switched, etc).
There is a website, MSFN, dedicated to figuring out how to make Windows more automated (cscript, batch files, RunOnce, RunOnceEx, unattended installation, nLite add-ons, etc), but a lot of it is nasty tricks working around Windows' bugs and oddities. I find it odd that such a website would exist, when not only does bash feature a much better set of commands, and for every batch file using for/F, bash's for loop is simple and easy to read and understand. But I guess if people want to literally praise MS then they have their 'stage'. Neowin is also a shrill; when Vista RTM arrived, they had an article and all they could say was 'not as bad as people say' and they were NEVER willing to admit that it sucked. How can one look at the Windows Registry and consider a long Key path like HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Explorer\Main\Toolbar\{3098F-9093A-209BF-5096C-C6902} normal? The registry is clearly made to be complicated to end-users, which is why EVERY single KB article warns about editing the registry. There are indeed some parts of it that can be modified and will forever stop a system from working without a complete reinstall. Ridiculous! How do you call that secure? And remember that on XP, you are administrator by default, any program could secretly call a registry editor (I forget what it is called in the WinAPI) and edit those crucial parts of the registry. If those are protected (as perhaps they should be), since you are administrator, that program could beat that because it could call a permissions command that sets permissions to Allow again, then go ahead and do its dirty trick. Or how about a program that disables SFC and then closes explorer and deletes it? It is too easy to break a Windows system. I know when I'm not root, my/usr folder is almost always safe (yes exploits may get found someday, and have been in the past). My only folder in danger at any given time when I execute is $HOME. That is ACTUAL security. Mac asking for a pa
Before I begin, let us not forget that WGA has found many computers with 'invalid licences' when indeed the computers were licensed fine. Beyond that, people can have multiple computers with the same OEM key activated, which causes problems with Microsoft's WGA servers, and can potentially cause invalidations. Otherwise legitimate people do not know the EULA and/or care for it. As for pirates, just find another solution or move to Linux; you will not regret it. I used to be an all-Windows person, pirating software, and everything. I thought Keygens were amazing; I thought the warez scene was amazing. Truth be told, the 'scene' is simply the result of things like said in this article, but if anything, the 'scene' should be promoting free alternatives instead of just cracking software all day. All that effort spent cracking some copy protection could be spent making a program that does the same thing.
The more a volume licence key gets used (it ALWAYS gets passed during Windows Update) the more chance that Microsoft will blacklist it. That is what happened to FCKGW and a number of others.
As for me, I am a technician on the side and I get volume licence keys from places I visit but I NEVER share them with anyone. So I have like 2 computers (one is mine, however I'm on Linux most of the time anyway; also it's a laptop and has a COA on the bottom anyway) in the house running on volume licence that always pass WGA, but I never allow the daemon to be installed, just the ActiveX control now required to go onto the Windows Update site. Technically, I am OEM licensed, but I would rather not be bothered by WGA so I just use VL keys that I never share with anyone.
The key posted above is definitely going to be blacklisted soon enough. I would stop while ahead.
Here's a method to be somewhat legit: Find an OEM key (just look at the side of someone's computer or bottom of someone's laptop for the COA), reinstall OEM Windows with that key, and activate online (which works a lot) or use the phone call method which is now all automated, no representative. Use a pay phone if you are paranoid. You just say 'This is the only computer this copy is installed to', etc. It works!
Why does this work online? Because Windows activation right now is as so: If the time since the original OEM hardware was activated exceeds 120 days (might be 60), then you may activate an OEM key on ANY new hardware. Violates licence? Yes. Care? No. Microsoft knows? Actually, yes.
As for businesses, I URGE you to find other solutions than deploying Windows installations plus whatever software. Microsoft is only getting more draconian as time goes along. 3D developers, Maya does run on Linux and Mac. Finance people, Quicken has an online version accessible with any browser. Proprietary software yes, but you can use it without worrying that your OS is just going to randomly shut off because it found (and many times has been wrong) that your OS is 'pirated'.
Well, even if that is the issue, they should not annoy the user by showing the message for a few seconds and having the machine loudly beep just because of that.
It will take time, but it will be cracked. The work is being performed. Meanwhile, Sony keeps the cost of a PS3 high because they still are not making any money from hardware sales. Blu-Ray burners and discs overall are expensive and even if there was a way to play off a copy using a burned Blu-Ray disc, it would just be not worth it at the moment. Sony also continues to force firmware updates (the only way to stop this is to not get new games or keep your PS3 off the Internet) to fix any potential security flaws that could allow the launch of 'arbitrary code', otherwise known as 'unsigned code' or PIRATED GAMES.
Unlike for PS2 and PS1, where many Linux users wished for a version for the PlayStation (probably nearly impossible with any of the PS1's), they gave the possibility for users to install (nearly any) Linux onto the PS3 (under a damned hypervisor, preventing usage of OpenGL and access to the 3D graphics device, thus preventing making games without buying a Sony developer licence). For PS2, they had PS2 for Linux also under a hypervisor (stopped supporting it shortly after its release), but it was hardly supported and you had to buy the 'kit'. You could not just burn any copy of Linux and load it onto your PS2 because you are forced to buy the kit, which is based on Yellow Dog of course. Now you do not, so all the arguments about homebrew and Linux-loading as reasoning for 'hacking' the PS3 go out the window. Sony recently fixed their hypervisor to disallow copying of games using the dd. Silly Sony.
If and when someone does make a complete hardware solution for PS3 to play pirated games and homebrew (native and not under Linux hypervisor), Sony can argue that they already allow for homebrew development under Linux completely legitimately and users do not even have to purchase a kit. Thus, Sony will also argue that the hardware was made to both be able to play pirated games and be able to make games without getting a Sony developer's licence.
Meanwhile, watch all the 'security' firmware patches comes out for PS3. Sony also does something special whilst at it. They give incentive for users to upgrade. PSP firmware version 2.0 definitely fixed a lot of the exploits that allowed execution of arbitrary code, but it came with a web browser. I am sure PS3 firmware updates will feature such enhancements. Those who care not for piracy will upgrade indefinitely especially if it is 'required' for a game to work. (Many games for PSP come with firmware update and will not launch without it, although many hacks have been made.)
The same cat and mouse game for every other console. Nintendo is just going to keep releasing firmware and same for Microsoft; they will also keep changing motherboards that fix 'security' and actual hardware flaws. Microsoft is about to release the next version of the Xbox 360 with a new motherboard. Who knows if that will have a firmware/BIOS that will check that the firmware of the DVD drive has a certain checksum (thus 'fixing' all the firmware hacks). And Nintendo may just release a new Wii that moves or removes all the solder points (yet again) where the modchips connect to.
For the hackers, the hackers will always win. But that is definitely less than 10% of the world population. Yet, the industry still complains. With respect to the article, are CPU manufacturers supposed to release CPUs that do not allow to me to run debuggers (because they could be used to 'crack' copy protections)? Piracy can definitely be controlled on consoles (most owners think it is hard, dangerous, could be caught, will break their console, etc). This is what companies want. id seems to want this for PCs as well. They might as well keep spreading the FUD that downloading pirated games risk you getting a virus (true, but not very common; you have to be a total moron to think 40 KB or so is that latest new game). You are talking about 90% legitimate people, 10% hackers/users-of-hackers-tools on the consoles, and maybe 75% legitimate users vs 25% non-legitimate users on PC. The 75% is offices and houses using software like QuickBooks, Office, Windows (of course), etc. These people do not know how to pirate (or are like the console paranoid people) and probably think software does have its cost for a reason.
Slashdot Mirror
My whole problem is 'the agenda' as much as I hate using the term. That is to get as many developers on-board developing .NET apps. I cannot be sure why, other than to make our computers slower, and make programming easier. Good thing on the latter part. On the former, I have the same opinion on .NET as Java (SLOW start-up time, often slow performance).
I think the real issue at hand is why Mono cannot just be .NET (so it can run everything without porting). And the company we have to ask that to is Microsoft. However, we already know the answer: software patents.
As for managed code, I'm going to 'digest' C# using Gtk# or Qt# interface, but I am going to lean more towards Java, even if it is 'worst'. I do not mind .NET apps (nLite and vLite for example). I just wish more developers would jump on board making Mono apps instead of .NET apps, which would mean utilising Gtk# or Qt# instead of Windows.Forms. They still have not put Windows.Forms in 2.0's binary release for Windows (I installed it in Wine).
The other problem with Mono IMO is it has no intentions to solve the problem where an app launches a non-CLI app, not via Wine or any means. Mono is not really working on Wine yet either, and .NET is still a pain to install (all kinds of hacks just to get simple Windows.Forms apps to run).
It works a little bit better than .NET (with winehacks) as far as running GTK# apps and all, but you might as well use native Mono for that. I got .NET 2.0 installed with winehacks and attempted to run nLite and of course, it crashed (a framework crash, not a Wine crash). I tried with Mono 1.3 last time but that was pointless for that. Wine's project plan is to support Win32 Mono as far as I know (especially since it is free software) to run .NET apps.
The only .NET apps I use are nLite and vLite. The fact that these both launch native apps means that perhaps the interfaces (which are AFAIK Windows.Forms) will load but they will not be able to be front-ends to their Windows native apps that they are launch. This is very unfortunate and I wish Wine and Mono could work together to solve this problem. A lot of .NET apps launch non-.NET apps. They should at least make an #ifdef __WINE__ or something to allow the Exec() command or whatever it is to replace the command with a Unix command like wine . Most things will probably work okay.
I agree. Why don't these people who want to use .NET (managed code) just use Java? At least that is platform agnostic (limited to whatever platforms Java is ported on).
By the way, what about dotGNU? http://www.gnu.org/software/dotgnu/ At least that will be released under GPL and not some dual licence with GPL.
Clearly, you do not get sarcasm.
- Modding community ... can they exist w/consoles?
- Alt-tab to a helpful wiki-based site for game
help? Can it be done on consoles?
- Game forums, still computer based? I guess that's ok...
- I assume communication will be done via voice? I shudder at the thought of hearing 11 year old immature idiots on the /trade channels. Keyboards and text chat had better be an option or I /quit.
- Can the consoles handle 50 people in the same scene at once all casting spells and generally being insane fucks? If not, give up until they can, because I don't want to see my FPS drop right when I get into the thick of things.
- My PS3 controller has ten buttons. That should be plenty to create a deep control scheme, if done right. That's the hurdle here: doing it right.
if they address this stuff I think it could be pretty sweet to be able to sit on my comfortable couch and play a MMO on my PS3. (yea yea I know, I can play an mmo on my big screen right now by using a computer anyway, but shush, we're not talking to you computer owning types here ;P)
Modding community? Yes. Sony can set up a website and software that uploads. So it still requires a computer and all but they don't have to worry about the game runs. Instead they just have to worry about the creation software running on most people's computers. If Sony decides not to, then I suppose those who care will wait till PS3 is hacked to run Homebrew and 'backups' and hope that this works.
I think the second is definitely possible as long as you have a keyboard connected to your PS3.
Why not do communication via voice like every other game nowadays?
As far as I know, the PS3's processor is pretty powerful and could probably handle what you are mentioning.
Not sure what they should do about PS3 controller. I think they should put some effort in it but there will a be 'true player' trend where people use keyboard and/or mouse.
The biggest thing is that PS3 can be pushed with Sony-only MMOs. PS3 has got nothing except MGS4 for right now. They do not even get Final Fantasy exclusively since Xbox 360 will get it as well from now on. Pretty much every 'produce for Sony-only' developer contract/deal has expired, such as the GTA series and other games. I guess MGS went back to Sony-only for the time being.
Yeah. The previous posts of this were terrible and very uninteresting, extremely BORING and pointless.
Would be cool. Have an SD card slot you can replace and play whichever games you want.
As for DS games, they can be played via the M3 and R4. I'm willing to bet Nintendo put some new tech in this version to prevent those devices from working.
That was my first thought on this. Nintendo probably put something in this to prevent devices like M3 and R4 from working.
I agree completely. Why should I have to dumb down security just to play online? If they aren't going to put WPA, then they should put an ethernet port on it or make an adaptor. Also, their adaptor for PCs doesn't work with Linux as far as I know.
Clearly, it was sarcasm as Slashdot is not a reliable source EVER!
Damn you! I was going to post the following.
---
'Cloud computing is a trap!' and I have good sources:
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/09/30/2146250
I am in disbelief over anyones the acceptance of the idea. Relinquishing control over your data to an outside source seems unfathomably retarded, no matter what kind of spin is put on it.
I agree as well. We need privacy of our data. I do use Gmail for lots of mail that I do not care that anyone reads and I do have a private account. Regardless, this is as far as I go other than a Facebook with REAL information (that only friends can view).
It makes no sense to do this 'cloud computing'. It seems like a big ploy to get everyone's information in databases and then be able to sell it all (just as credit card companies have been doing for years). Now they have more than a name, phone number, and address. They have your business's work schedule, your own schedule, your pictures, EVERYTHING that can be made digital. And for the items you have, you might be making an inventory. Well, they have that too.
I would rather have a file or hard-copy of anything over an on-line copy. This is why I tend to download torrents instead of stream videos. Almost like personal philanthropy.
If you really think it is good, go on ahead. My letter is released under the GFDL :D
and all I got was this stinkin'...
Anyway, here is the real letter:
Please vote no on the 'PRO-IP Act'. This act is nothing but a provision to protect businesses who cannot adapt with our 'digital age' and will not accept that they need to create new products and not 're-hash' the same content every 10 years.
Consider the film industry. What are they up to now? They keep moving formats, each time simply because one may contain a better form of DRM. Both new formats for physical media, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, have DRM (digital rights management, a scheme to protect content from easily being copied by the average person) built-in that was stronger than DVD's protection. Regardless, as citizens, we are asking for our fair use rights back more than anything else, and the repeal of the DMCA. Now the MPAA as a whole has switched to BluRay in the hopes that such DRM will keep the money 'flowing in'. I, and many others, refuse to buy such a media even if we like the content. Secondly, we refuse to watch the content at all.
Every other industry is now similar, and they are simply placing the blame on 'pirates'. EA Games has implemented a DRM scheme where we may purchase their game, but only install it a total of 5 times, and each time will be accounted for because the installations will be verified on-line. After that, especially when such a product is not on the shelves any more, what is a fully law-abiding citizen to do?
It is nothing but a waste of tax money to have more resources in the government trying to keep these failing business models alive. Good businesses would adapt to the market properly, making new products, better products, understanding the customer needs, and certainly NOT treating the customers as criminals before they have even done anything 'illegal' (this is what they assume, since they use DRM so unwittingly and hardly give consumers warning).
Most citizens are going to agree that so-called 'street pirates' should be given punishment, including myself. That is the large difference. This bill has a provision for that, but it seems as though it could easily be used for individuals who are not making any money from 'pirates', who I cannot see as doing anything that is hurting these industries.
If RIAA head Mitch Bainwol has called the legislation "music to the ears of all those who care about strengthening American creativity and jobs," he really means that it will further allow the RIAA to enforce more DRM on their potential customers, while most are far too undereducated on the topic to know what is really going on. They buy a CD that may contain protection, or download a music file from a store, but what is almost NEVER labelled clearly is that such a medium is protected from fair use (i.e. making a backup copy).
What is here to replace the failing business models? Non-failing ones. We have the Internet, a place where people can publish their music (charge money or not) without ever having to go through a major publisher such as Warner. And same for films. While many will say much of Youtube is a waste, many people are gaining recognition. Monetary? Hardly, but they are happy with being known 'out there', just as a film star celebrity.
Tell the industries who want this law passed that they need to handle their business in ways that help and strengthen their relationships with their customers, not weaken them, just because a law says that they can do so, and please vote no under all circumstances.
Thank you
Everyone else please contact your Congressman/Congresswoman! Even a sentence or two can make the difference between not writing anything at all.
Agreed. A package manager for Windows would solve many problems as far as how people get software, paid and free. I would hope Microsoft would be nice and add Firefox, Opera, Safari, and other 'stable' browsers to the list other than just their own stuff. For mail, have Windows Mail, Thunderbird, Evolution, and more. For games, have tons of FOSS games, and retail games. Microsoft could take over Valve (or whoever owns Steam) with a package manager that handles not only games, but EVERYTHING. The good thing about Windows and dependencies is you can ship your own DLL simply by putting it in the same directory as the EXE (that's not to say it will always work), but if someone made use of MSVC7 runtime version 1.02 vs 1.02.1 (made up numbers), this problem is solved (hopefully). (On Linux to achieve the same thing you link dynamic libraries to ./ instead of their standard places (usr/lib). Google Earth does this.)
As much as I hate proprietary software, it still exists. So imagine, even as system administrator for a huge enterprise running Active Directory, you need 20 licences for Autodesk Inventor. Pull out Windows's package manager, tell it you need 20, pay with credit card or some form of payment, use built-in automatic deployment with other tools (some maybe made by Autodesk), and done. You need 1 licence of (LOL) Spore, go to Games and pick it, pay with your credit card, and it's installed and purchased for LIFE (hopefully). If you ever have to reinstall, you go back into package manager, enter your details and you can re-download anything you purchased before.
This would save everyone headaches. Add/Remove Programs (or now Software) has always been a mess. Some programs add to the list, some don't. Some programs use %HOME% for settings, some use the registry. Quite annoying all this. First of all, Microsoft gets rid of the registry for normal use for good (they keep it for backward compatibility, but it is deprecated officially), and they tell every developer 'your app must use %APPDATA% or %HOME% for its settings, must install to %PROGRAMFILES%, must not be hard-coded to any paths whatsoever, etc'.
If only I ran Microsoft...
They are talking about old drivers pre-Vista and 'the Wheel' = Vista.
I agree they should definitely box up Ubuntu (Shuttleworth has got the funds) and start selling it right alongside Windows Vista. Even I might buy it just to support more GNU/Linux/FOSS development (Ubuntu is just one facet in the whole thing). $30-$45 is definitely a reasonable price for an OS that is 50x better than Windows and with that, free upgrades (I am assuming). People may not flock immediately, but with word they will.
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01101001 01110100 01100101 00100000 01110011 01101111 01101101 01100101 01110100 01101000
01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01110101 01110011 01100101 01100110 01110101 01101100
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What are we? Children? I cannot believe anyone can be adult, hear the word promise, and consider giving it any seriousness. Microsoft or anyone should never promise anyone anything. Just my advice.
Beyond that, IE 8 is still beta so I'd wait to see the final result. I know I will not be using it much because I am on Linux 90% of the time. It better be slipstreamable though.
But that's not how it works. MS makes the "free" 'pirated' windows they got (probably from a shady computer shop bundling it with their cut-price PC, the people affected by this will mostly be the "unknowing" 'pirates') suck, so they assume that the free ubuntu must suck and/or be illegal too. I've already encountered people who think free linux is criminal because they're so brainwashed by the infofascist BSA crowd. It felt like that electrolytes scene from idiocracy when I tried to explain it - possibly my fault for not being clear enough, but they were so godawfully dumb I couldn't stand it anymore and pointed out they could buy a copy of linux from a company if they wanted, which felt like the "eventually he told them he could talk to plants" thing.
It's amazing to think that people like that exist, but I know they do. People who not necessarily respect copyrights, but think anything that is intentionally free is going to automatically 'suck'.
Since you cannot vote with your wallet, vote with your mouse. Do not download Windows, Office, or anything of the sort. It is only turning into more bloatware and on top of that now it is spying on your copy just to make sure it is legitimate. WGA's first incarnation was 'phoning home' once a day (I think now it's once a week)! Yes, you can crack away at it; someone always figures out a way around any copy prevention measure. But if you stop using pirated Microsoft software, you are getting yourself out of legal danger. Do I agree with the copyright laws much? Not really, no. But why risk?
If you stop using Microsoft anything, and start using free/open source software alternatives, you are getting yourself out of format lock-in. How many .doc/.docx files do you have? You are nearly stuck if you have a lot.
You might think cracking or a keygen is cool, and the idea of it is cool, but the effort taken to do either of those could be better spent in developing the free alternative.
Since a while ago, on Windows (long before I started using Linux fully), I moved to almost all FOSS software. At the time, Gaim (now Pidgin as you all know), OpenOffice, Firefox, Scribus, and a few more. Start small, 'pirates'. Start from Windows. Get rid of your pirated copy of Office and replace it with OpenOffice or something that can read ODF format. Get rid of Photoshop and learn GIMP. Get rid of MS Publisher and use Scribus. Get rid of Outlook and replace it with Thunderbird (either use the Thunderbird Calendar add-on or use Sunbird for calendar). Yes, there is much learning to be done and perhaps 'quirks' to get used to, but it is worth it. Then go ahead and make the switch to a free OS altogether. You'll find all those apps right there, and you'll be able to open up all your files too. Almost no FOSS Windows versions use the registry, so you can transfer all your settings files to Linux too and they will probably work (I had no issue transferring my Firefox profile to Linux when I switched, etc).
There is a website, MSFN, dedicated to figuring out how to make Windows more automated (cscript, batch files, RunOnce, RunOnceEx, unattended installation, nLite add-ons, etc), but a lot of it is nasty tricks working around Windows' bugs and oddities. I find it odd that such a website would exist, when not only does bash feature a much better set of commands, and for every batch file using for /F, bash's for loop is simple and easy to read and understand. But I guess if people want to literally praise MS then they have their 'stage'. Neowin is also a shrill; when Vista RTM arrived, they had an article and all they could say was 'not as bad as people say' and they were NEVER willing to admit that it sucked. How can one look at the Windows Registry and consider a long Key path like HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Explorer\Main\Toolbar\{3098F-9093A-209BF-5096C-C6902} normal? The registry is clearly made to be complicated to end-users, which is why EVERY single KB article warns about editing the registry. There are indeed some parts of it that can be modified and will forever stop a system from working without a complete reinstall. Ridiculous! How do you call that secure? And remember that on XP, you are administrator by default, any program could secretly call a registry editor (I forget what it is called in the WinAPI) and edit those crucial parts of the registry. If those are protected (as perhaps they should be), since you are administrator, that program could beat that because it could call a permissions command that sets permissions to Allow again, then go ahead and do its dirty trick. Or how about a program that disables SFC and then closes explorer and deletes it? It is too easy to break a Windows system. I know when I'm not root, my /usr folder is almost always safe (yes exploits may get found someday, and have been in the past). My only folder in danger at any given time when I execute is $HOME. That is ACTUAL security. Mac asking for a pa
Before I begin, let us not forget that WGA has found many computers with 'invalid licences' when indeed the computers were licensed fine. Beyond that, people can have multiple computers with the same OEM key activated, which causes problems with Microsoft's WGA servers, and can potentially cause invalidations. Otherwise legitimate people do not know the EULA and/or care for it. As for pirates, just find another solution or move to Linux; you will not regret it. I used to be an all-Windows person, pirating software, and everything. I thought Keygens were amazing; I thought the warez scene was amazing. Truth be told, the 'scene' is simply the result of things like said in this article, but if anything, the 'scene' should be promoting free alternatives instead of just cracking software all day. All that effort spent cracking some copy protection could be spent making a program that does the same thing.
The more a volume licence key gets used (it ALWAYS gets passed during Windows Update) the more chance that Microsoft will blacklist it. That is what happened to FCKGW and a number of others.
As for me, I am a technician on the side and I get volume licence keys from places I visit but I NEVER share them with anyone. So I have like 2 computers (one is mine, however I'm on Linux most of the time anyway; also it's a laptop and has a COA on the bottom anyway) in the house running on volume licence that always pass WGA, but I never allow the daemon to be installed, just the ActiveX control now required to go onto the Windows Update site. Technically, I am OEM licensed, but I would rather not be bothered by WGA so I just use VL keys that I never share with anyone.
The key posted above is definitely going to be blacklisted soon enough. I would stop while ahead.
Here's a method to be somewhat legit: Find an OEM key (just look at the side of someone's computer or bottom of someone's laptop for the COA), reinstall OEM Windows with that key, and activate online (which works a lot) or use the phone call method which is now all automated, no representative. Use a pay phone if you are paranoid. You just say 'This is the only computer this copy is installed to', etc. It works!
Why does this work online? Because Windows activation right now is as so: If the time since the original OEM hardware was activated exceeds 120 days (might be 60), then you may activate an OEM key on ANY new hardware. Violates licence? Yes. Care? No. Microsoft knows? Actually, yes.
As for businesses, I URGE you to find other solutions than deploying Windows installations plus whatever software. Microsoft is only getting more draconian as time goes along. 3D developers, Maya does run on Linux and Mac. Finance people, Quicken has an online version accessible with any browser. Proprietary software yes, but you can use it without worrying that your OS is just going to randomly shut off because it found (and many times has been wrong) that your OS is 'pirated'.
Well, even if that is the issue, they should not annoy the user by showing the message for a few seconds and having the machine loudly beep just because of that.
It will take time, but it will be cracked. The work is being performed. Meanwhile, Sony keeps the cost of a PS3 high because they still are not making any money from hardware sales. Blu-Ray burners and discs overall are expensive and even if there was a way to play off a copy using a burned Blu-Ray disc, it would just be not worth it at the moment. Sony also continues to force firmware updates (the only way to stop this is to not get new games or keep your PS3 off the Internet) to fix any potential security flaws that could allow the launch of 'arbitrary code', otherwise known as 'unsigned code' or PIRATED GAMES.
Unlike for PS2 and PS1, where many Linux users wished for a version for the PlayStation (probably nearly impossible with any of the PS1's), they gave the possibility for users to install (nearly any) Linux onto the PS3 (under a damned hypervisor, preventing usage of OpenGL and access to the 3D graphics device, thus preventing making games without buying a Sony developer licence). For PS2, they had PS2 for Linux also under a hypervisor (stopped supporting it shortly after its release), but it was hardly supported and you had to buy the 'kit'. You could not just burn any copy of Linux and load it onto your PS2 because you are forced to buy the kit, which is based on Yellow Dog of course. Now you do not, so all the arguments about homebrew and Linux-loading as reasoning for 'hacking' the PS3 go out the window.
Sony recently fixed their hypervisor to disallow copying of games using the dd. Silly Sony.
If and when someone does make a complete hardware solution for PS3 to play pirated games and homebrew (native and not under Linux hypervisor), Sony can argue that they already allow for homebrew development under Linux completely legitimately and users do not even have to purchase a kit. Thus, Sony will also argue that the hardware was made to both be able to play pirated games and be able to make games without getting a Sony developer's licence.
Meanwhile, watch all the 'security' firmware patches comes out for PS3. Sony also does something special whilst at it. They give incentive for users to upgrade. PSP firmware version 2.0 definitely fixed a lot of the exploits that allowed execution of arbitrary code, but it came with a web browser. I am sure PS3 firmware updates will feature such enhancements. Those who care not for piracy will upgrade indefinitely especially if it is 'required' for a game to work. (Many games for PSP come with firmware update and will not launch without it, although many hacks have been made.)
The same cat and mouse game for every other console. Nintendo is just going to keep releasing firmware and same for Microsoft; they will also keep changing motherboards that fix 'security' and actual hardware flaws. Microsoft is about to release the next version of the Xbox 360 with a new motherboard. Who knows if that will have a firmware/BIOS that will check that the firmware of the DVD drive has a certain checksum (thus 'fixing' all the firmware hacks). And Nintendo may just release a new Wii that moves or removes all the solder points (yet again) where the modchips connect to.
For the hackers, the hackers will always win. But that is definitely less than 10% of the world population. Yet, the industry still complains. With respect to the article, are CPU manufacturers supposed to release CPUs that do not allow to me to run debuggers (because they could be used to 'crack' copy protections)? Piracy can definitely be controlled on consoles (most owners think it is hard, dangerous, could be caught, will break their console, etc). This is what companies want. id seems to want this for PCs as well. They might as well keep spreading the FUD that downloading pirated games risk you getting a virus (true, but not very common; you have to be a total moron to think 40 KB or so is that latest new game). You are talking about 90% legitimate people, 10% hackers/users-of-hackers-tools on the consoles, and maybe 75% legitimate users vs 25% non-legitimate users on PC. The 75% is offices and houses using software like QuickBooks, Office, Windows (of course), etc. These people do not know how to pirate (or are like the console paranoid people) and probably think software does have its cost for a reason.