Jeez I must not have checked slashdot that ONE DAY. I'm so ashamed. I'm aware of the issues, I was just putting it out there because I think it's frickin' disgusting...whether or not Tivo knows exactly who I am. As mentioned in the article, sonicblue is fighting to NOT have to compile such information and make it public to the networks. Just goes to show which company is on the viewers' side...as far as that matters.
"Indeed, advertisers take heart in data from TiVo that showed its viewers fast-forwarding through this year's Super Bowl and using the instant replay function for the Britney Spears Pepsi commercial more than any other segment besides the winning field goal."
Tivo knows when and what you've fast forwarded and rewound?!?!?! Holy frickin' crap! Doesn't this bother Tivo owners just a little? Why would anyone own a Tivo? They're the AOL of DVR's!
I love my powerbook, too. But the build-quality is VERY disappointing. I've had the machine six months and have already had replace the display (under warranty) b/c the left hinge cracked and separated from the unit, the top case also cracked, and the latch has failed. The case is so poorly designed that you have to buy a piece of leather/cloth to put over the keyboard so the keys don't scratch and pit your screen. I take good care of my tibook. I keep it in a padded bag inside a padded compartment of a laptop backpack...and I had never dropped it. Now I own a G4 Monolith hard plastic shell from Tom Bihn to keep it in my backpack.
To make matters worse, the Airport reception is several orders of magnitude less sensitive than my old pcmcia 802.11b card.
These are all well documented complaints...just check the Apple powerbook forums. I love OSX and my tibook, but Apple really dropped the ball on quality assurance on this one. If you consider purchasing one, definitely spring for the extended warranty, and handle with extreme care!
JavaScript OSA for MacOS seems like it might be something similar:
JavaScript OSA is a port of the Mozilla JavaScript 1.5 scripting system to the Macintosh in the form of a OSA (Open Scripting Architecture) component. You can use JavaScript OSA as a scripting language in any Macintosh application supporting OSA languages, such as the Script Editor included with the MacOS or our own Script Debugger product.
Though not necessarily made with "weblications" in mind, you could probably produce a full featured application using this AppleScript component (such as by making calls to a Unix shell or via XML-RPC and SOAP calls implemented in OSX 10.1). My question is, would a Darwin/OSX port of SashXB be more or less useful than just using JavaScript OSA for a system-level JavaScript API?
Tell me about it. I got one of Sony's new format ("micromv") digital camcorders for my birthday. It's an amazing little camera, but you can only use THEIR software to edit your footage. Let me tell you, it is one seriously UGLY, consumer level, cheesy program. It (barely) gets the job done, but man is it sluggish on my 1ghz/392mb RAM athlon thunderbird. I would MUCH rather cut videos on my powerbook G4 with iMovie or Final Cut Pro...but that's not gonna happen anytime soon. I know they just want me to buy one of their crappy Vaio computers to edit my footage. Greedy bastards.
Sure, I'm keeping my PC's around...but for everyday computing I love OSX.
I bought a Powerbook G4...and while I think it is a beautiful machine and a dream to use, I am very disappointed in the build quality. The hinge has cracked and the latch has failed, the screen is scratched from contacting the keys when closed, the keyboard randomly spits out "Q's" while typing, and the A/C port is temperamental. Believe it or not, I actually take good care of it...I keep it in a padded sleeve inside a padded case!
So I guess the feedback I'd give to Apple is: Please make your hardware a more durable, or at least give me a robust, foolproof warranty without having to pay an additional $100 a year. After all, I'm paying a premium to own an Apple!
My "digital" cable service (RCN of Manhattan) uses a crappy Motorola cable box that sports a "Dolby Digital" logo on the front...but only provides analog audio and composite video outputs. That should be illegal!
I don't remember the name of it, but it seems that this could be used for a torture chamber described in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series! The gist of it was that the victim entered a chamber where the entire Universe was projected all around him in stunning detail...and the sheer unthinkable magnitude of it all made the victim feel so minor and insignificant that it killed them.
I remember reading it and thinking that's not only frickin' hilarious, but it's COOL!
Actually, by the time this material is in widespread use, I expect to be using a bluetooth headset most of the time. Such a headset might isolate the antenna from your head a little better...just as when you extend the antenna on your mobile phone today. Since the distance to the handset is relatively short, the headset won't need a super-duper antenna. But it would be nice for the handset itself to have one of these to improve it's reception.
"For now, Microsoft's Windows rules the home. Most consumers merely want their computers to work and have no appetite for the tedious process of installing Linux. That may change. Linux hackers from Germany and elsewhere are working on a Windows-like graphical interface for Linux PCs called KDE (for K Desktop Environment). They expect to release it this spring--free of charge."
OK, what exactly does the future <cough!> release of KDE have to do with the "tedious process of installing linux"? And if consumers "merely want their computers to work", how about mentioning Apple? Plus, the article is horribly written. I'm not talking so much about the technical defects, either...it seems as though the authors just got out of high school. There's no eloquence at all. Feh.
CBS a shadow Slashdot supporter?
on
The Rise of CSI
·
· Score: 1
What low-level CBS exec managed to get Katz to write this drivel about more drivel? If I wanted a "review" of typical network crap, I'd go to the Entertainment Tonight website.
I haven't taken chemistry in like 8 years, but doesn't "oxide" mean O2? Dihydrogen Oxide to me sounds like 2H02. Or maybe it means H2O2, but for some reason I'm thinking the prefix "di-" is chemically different than the suffix "-ide" (thus 2H instead of H2)...but I couldn't tell you exactly what the difference is. Any chem majors out there?
Dude...it's not a "vague safety rule" that the attendants arbitrarily enforce. All electronic devices emit some electromagnetic interference. By law they must not contain circuitry/casing to completely remove this interference. I'm not sure why this is, but there is always a disclaimer to this in the manual or back of any device.
The aggregate amount of interference generated by passengers' spinning CD player motors, laptop LCD displays, CPU clocks, etc. has caused some concern by the FAA. Even low levels of interference can mess with sensitive avionics and communications systems. Most planes weren't built with much shielding in the passenger area because personal electronic devices weren't prevalent when they were manufactured...not to mention the fact that saving weight is paramount in aircraft manufacturing. The only protection is provided by shielding the wires themselves, which is OK but far from ideal. Stray signals can also be picked up by antennae located on the outside of the craft thanks to the multitude of windows that easily leak radio frequencies.
Sure, the article says they put holes in XP...but what if they really put holes in the XBOX?!?!
Imagine...you boot up your xbox to play Dead or Alive. Instead of the game starting, a hypnotic image of Osama bin Laden appears telling you to buy more gasoline and heroin from his Islamic brothers.
But of course that won't be necessary because you must already be smoking crack to have purchased an xbox.
Commercial Skip (read: 30 second) has ALWAYS been a feature of ReplayTV. There's also an undocumented feature to skip any number of minutes via a number and the "skip" button...so you can skip entire commercial BREAKS with two keypresses. Rockin'!
There's an important distinction with the ReplayTV 4000...it's an AUTOMATIC commercial skip. How well this works, who knows? But it's damn cool.
You are right...my ReplayTV definitely lowers the audio bitrate (and makes it mono) when on the lowest setting. This is unfortunate but understandable to save disk space. However, there is less of a an audio difference between medium and high quality settings.
In any case...I love ReplayTV. It's just as easy for me to use as a Tivo, and I don't end up supporting a company who is the bitch of the television networks.:-) Now if only I could afford a Replay 4000!!!!!!!
C'mon people this is par for the course of any and all industries.
All I know is that my ReplayTV kicks the shiat out of a Tivo. The 30 second skip button alone makes it better...plus there's an undocumented feature that allows you to skip ahead MINUTES by entering a number before pressing the skip button. Heaven!
I remember salivating over ReplayTV back in the early 90's when Tivo was barely a glimmer in a marketer's eye. Wasn't it Marc Andreeson's baby after Netscape? There's no question they have been the innovators in this field...proprietary OS or not. Tivo just has better marketing.
While I may not be a big fan of their taking part in our system's "sue everybody" philosophy, I respect ReplayTV (and SonicBlue by association) for standing up to the networks and incorporating the functionality that I as a consumer want. Tivo is the bitch of the companies that slashdotters love to hate (Big Media). Why would you support them? Just because their (spyware) product is based on Linux?
Slashdot Mirror
Woohoo! I claim username "Hiro"!
Jeez I must not have checked slashdot that ONE DAY. I'm so ashamed.
I'm aware of the issues, I was just putting it out there because I think it's frickin' disgusting...whether or not Tivo knows exactly who I am. As mentioned in the article, sonicblue is fighting to NOT have to compile such information and make it public to the networks. Just goes to show which company is on the viewers' side...as far as that matters.
AWESOME. Someone mod this way up, please.
Tivo knows when and what you've fast forwarded and rewound?!?!?! Holy frickin' crap! Doesn't this bother Tivo owners just a little? Why would anyone own a Tivo? They're the AOL of DVR's!
AWESOME. I'm sending all of my friends to theyRule.net. Excellent interface and totally interesting content.
I love my powerbook, too. But the build-quality is VERY disappointing. I've had the machine six months and have already had replace the display (under warranty) b/c the left hinge cracked and separated from the unit, the top case also cracked, and the latch has failed. The case is so poorly designed that you have to buy a piece of leather/cloth to put over the keyboard so the keys don't scratch and pit your screen. I take good care of my tibook. I keep it in a padded bag inside a padded compartment of a laptop backpack...and I had never dropped it. Now I own a G4 Monolith hard plastic shell from Tom Bihn to keep it in my backpack.
To make matters worse, the Airport reception is several orders of magnitude less sensitive than my old pcmcia 802.11b card.
These are all well documented complaints...just check the Apple powerbook forums. I love OSX and my tibook, but Apple really dropped the ball on quality assurance on this one. If you consider purchasing one, definitely spring for the extended warranty, and handle with extreme care!
JavaScript OSA is a port of the Mozilla JavaScript 1.5 scripting system to the Macintosh in the form of a OSA (Open Scripting Architecture) component. You can use JavaScript OSA as a scripting language in any Macintosh application supporting OSA languages, such as the Script Editor included with the MacOS or our own Script Debugger product.
Though not necessarily made with "weblications" in mind, you could probably produce a full featured application using this AppleScript component (such as by making calls to a Unix shell or via XML-RPC and SOAP calls implemented in OSX 10.1). My question is, would a Darwin/OSX port of SashXB be more or less useful than just using JavaScript OSA for a system-level JavaScript API?
Tell me about it. I got one of Sony's new format ("micromv") digital camcorders for my birthday. It's an amazing little camera, but you can only use THEIR software to edit your footage. Let me tell you, it is one seriously UGLY, consumer level, cheesy program. It (barely) gets the job done, but man is it sluggish on my 1ghz/392mb RAM athlon thunderbird. I would MUCH rather cut videos on my powerbook G4 with iMovie or Final Cut Pro...but that's not gonna happen anytime soon. I know they just want me to buy one of their crappy Vaio computers to edit my footage. Greedy bastards.
Sure, I'm keeping my PC's around...but for everyday computing I love OSX.
I bought a Powerbook G4...and while I think it is a beautiful machine and a dream to use, I am very disappointed in the build quality. The hinge has cracked and the latch has failed, the screen is scratched from contacting the keys when closed, the keyboard randomly spits out "Q's" while typing, and the A/C port is temperamental. Believe it or not, I actually take good care of it...I keep it in a padded sleeve inside a padded case!
So I guess the feedback I'd give to Apple is: Please make your hardware a more durable, or at least give me a robust, foolproof warranty without having to pay an additional $100 a year. After all, I'm paying a premium to own an Apple!
My "digital" cable service (RCN of Manhattan) uses a crappy Motorola cable box that sports a "Dolby Digital" logo on the front...but only provides analog audio and composite video outputs. That should be illegal!
I don't remember the name of it, but it seems that this could be used for a torture chamber described in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series! The gist of it was that the victim entered a chamber where the entire Universe was projected all around him in stunning detail...and the sheer unthinkable magnitude of it all made the victim feel so minor and insignificant that it killed them.
I remember reading it and thinking that's not only frickin' hilarious, but it's COOL!
Actually, by the time this material is in widespread use, I expect to be using a bluetooth headset most of the time. Such a headset might isolate the antenna from your head a little better...just as when you extend the antenna on your mobile phone today. Since the distance to the handset is relatively short, the headset won't need a super-duper antenna. But it would be nice for the handset itself to have one of these to improve it's reception.
OK, what exactly does the future <cough!> release of KDE have to do with the "tedious process of installing linux"? And if consumers "merely want their computers to work", how about mentioning Apple? Plus, the article is horribly written. I'm not talking so much about the technical defects, either...it seems as though the authors just got out of high school. There's no eloquence at all. Feh.
What low-level CBS exec managed to get Katz to write this drivel about more drivel? If I wanted a "review" of typical network crap, I'd go to the Entertainment Tonight website.
I haven't taken chemistry in like 8 years, but doesn't "oxide" mean O2? Dihydrogen Oxide to me sounds like 2H02. Or maybe it means H2O2, but for some reason I'm thinking the prefix "di-" is chemically different than the suffix "-ide" (thus 2H instead of H2)...but I couldn't tell you exactly what the difference is. Any chem majors out there?
Damn I wish I had some Mod points because that was AWESOME. Especially that last paragraph. Kudos!
Hah! That's what I was thinking.
The aggregate amount of interference generated by passengers' spinning CD player motors, laptop LCD displays, CPU clocks, etc. has caused some concern by the FAA. Even low levels of interference can mess with sensitive avionics and communications systems. Most planes weren't built with much shielding in the passenger area because personal electronic devices weren't prevalent when they were manufactured...not to mention the fact that saving weight is paramount in aircraft manufacturing. The only protection is provided by shielding the wires themselves, which is OK but far from ideal. Stray signals can also be picked up by antennae located on the outside of the craft thanks to the multitude of windows that easily leak radio frequencies.
Here's a brief synopsis: http://www.physics.nwu.edu/classes/2001Fall/Phyx13 5-2/22/more.htm. Another good article is here.
Sorry to be nitpicky, but I think you mean business "acumen", not "acument".
Sure, the article says they put holes in XP...but what if they really put holes in the XBOX?!?!
Imagine...you boot up your xbox to play Dead or Alive. Instead of the game starting, a hypnotic image of Osama bin Laden appears telling you to buy more gasoline and heroin from his Islamic brothers.
But of course that won't be necessary because you must already be smoking crack to have purchased an xbox.
Commercial Skip (read: 30 second) has ALWAYS been a feature of ReplayTV. There's also an undocumented feature to skip any number of minutes via a number and the "skip" button...so you can skip entire commercial BREAKS with two keypresses. Rockin'!
There's an important distinction with the ReplayTV 4000...it's an AUTOMATIC commercial skip. How well this works, who knows? But it's damn cool.
You are right...my ReplayTV definitely lowers the audio bitrate (and makes it mono) when on the lowest setting. This is unfortunate but understandable to save disk space. However, there is less of a an audio difference between medium and high quality settings.
:-) Now if only I could afford a Replay 4000!!!!!!!
In any case...I love ReplayTV. It's just as easy for me to use as a Tivo, and I don't end up supporting a company who is the bitch of the television networks.
C'mon people this is par for the course of any and all industries.
All I know is that my ReplayTV kicks the shiat out of a Tivo. The 30 second skip button alone makes it better...plus there's an undocumented feature that allows you to skip ahead MINUTES by entering a number before pressing the skip button. Heaven!
I remember salivating over ReplayTV back in the early 90's when Tivo was barely a glimmer in a marketer's eye. Wasn't it Marc Andreeson's baby after Netscape? There's no question they have been the innovators in this field...proprietary OS or not. Tivo just has better marketing.
While I may not be a big fan of their taking part in our system's "sue everybody" philosophy, I respect ReplayTV (and SonicBlue by association) for standing up to the networks and incorporating the functionality that I as a consumer want. Tivo is the bitch of the companies that slashdotters love to hate (Big Media). Why would you support them? Just because their (spyware) product is based on Linux?
Didn't your mom teach you not to slam doors?
ROCK!