The way I understand it is that the "broadcast flag" (at least as proposed in the US) is basically on the honor system. To enforce it, the media cartels are still trying to pass a law that requires all tuner makers to "respect" it, basically creating a legal lock around the whole issue (see also: DMCA).
The thing is, we don't know how powerful the system will be until we see the games. The Cube wasn't really expected to be super extremely powerful, yet its graphics output was much closer to the Xbox than the PS2. I think it's definitely too early to judge.
The Dreamcast went under because people found an easy way to pirate games.
Um, no. The DC went under because they couldn't grow their base to a size that could compete against the PS2, GC, and Xbox. They didn't have any support from EA either, which hurt a lot.
Wrong. "Algorithm" can be as low or high level as you like. I can write a list of instructions on how to make a turkey sandwich. That's an algorithm. I can also write instructions on how to best find the greatest common factor of two numbers. That's also an algorithm. It doesn't matter what the scope is.
"Software Architect" is what you get when you take away the specific implementation: the programming language, the operating system, the specific database. What you're left with is the high-level big-picture design.
Wow, this is probably a page right out of my CS 101 book. The word you're looking for here is algorithm. Computer Science is (mostly) the study of algorithms. So I dunno what kind of distinction you're trying to make.
Sure, the off shore folks have us beat when it comes to programminng, no doubt about that...
Sure, managers and PHB-types might think it's a great idea to outsource programming. By doing this, you can get a similar-quality "product" for a much lower cost. But it's not all roses and cherub farts.
Programming is hard. There have been countless times where a project has not met the needs it was supposed to, and this often has to do with poor communication. Now throw in a few thousand miles difference from the customer and the coders, a time difference and possibly a language barrier. Is this going to make it easier to get what you need? The chance for miscommunication here goes up a huge amount. What also gets worse is turnaround time. The factors I've mentioned will definitely slow down some parts of the development.
I'm starting to get the picture that putting out a mass-market game console is really really hard.
I remember reading something before the US launch of the PS2 (it may have been EGM). The reporter was in a warehouse where all the launch-day machines were sitting, waiting to be shipped out. He said something like "I dunno if the logistics of moving all these machines is a bigger job than launching the space shuttle, but it's close".
AFIAK, Wine isn't some 'middleware' but rather the API implemented.
You can call it either name and probably not be wrong. Wine is not entangled with the OS it's running on, so it could be considered "middleware". It also implements the API of Windows, so that's accurate as well.
I just thought I'd point out that a lot of consoles have had this happen. The PS2 has gone through a bunch of revisions, and I remember reading that when Nintendo redesigned the Super NES, part of the reason was to reduce the number of chips they had to put into it.
I think this has more to do with the size of the market for these devices. DAP players are still not completely mainstream, as they require a computer and either some technical knowledge or a friend that can teach you. Before Apple and Itunes, the MP3 player market was a lot smaller and the software/hardware was worse (not that it's a lot better now). But it's important to note that it took a few years for a "breakthrough" product to come along and destroy the rest of the industry under the force of its own common sense. I predict that someone else will find a magic forumla that will compete or overtake the iPod. It might just take a few years.
Regarding child exploitation, there is a little association called ASACP that fights child porn on the internet. Who are most of their members? Porn sites, of course.
Obviously, some of them are members just because it looks good, but they are members nonetheless.
Is this what we want, a paternalistic government and a paranoid society?
Based on the way the average voter can be brainwashed to vote for complete morons, and the lack of outcry over horrible legislation (DMCA, PATRIOT), and the lack of outcry over actual spying, I'd say that's what the average person wants.
The wisdom of Jerry Garcia does not apply to today's music market
Really? What's different in the market today? The Internet actually makes it easier to spread your music to new fans; instead of copying bootlegs that degrade, you can get a web site and use tech like Bittorrent or other P2P programs, reaching millions of people.
I don't believe that Samsung is a direct competitor to Apple in the DAP market, much the same way Dell isn't really a competitor to Apple in the desktop PC market. Apple goes after a pretty narrow market, and they're highly successful there. Samsung is more a more broad-ranging company sells tons of different things. It's a bit like comparing a small boutique carmaker to General Motors. Both make the same product, but are not really competing against each other.
Well, the telephone was technically around by the time of Lincoln's presidency (quoth Wikipedia), but I kinda doubt it was used until cheap recording systems and tiny microphones were invented. So yeah, this guy's pretty much an idiot, or was hoping that nobody would notice.
There's really a lot of variables going on with computer noise. You can have noisy fans and noisy components (like hard drives). Also, both of these two things can rub up against the other parts (usually the case) causing vibration noise.
I think a good way to start is to try and isolate the noisiest part, or the perhaps the part that drives you nuts the most. Then, you can replace or adjust that part. But be careful: it's important to watch out for heat. If you clock down your fans, they will move less air and things can overheat.
As for vibration, there's stuff like Dynamat that you can stick onto the inside of your case that "dampens" vibration. From what I've heard, dampening material can also cause heat to rise, so be careful here as well. I know I could use some, as just pressing my hand on the various sides of my case causes the noise to go down a bit. Also, things not being screwed together correctly can cause vibration.
President Washington, President Lincoln, President Wilson, President Roosevelt have all authorized electronic surveillance on a far broader scale. --Alberto Gonzales, United States Attorney General
*Shudder*
Disclosure: I didn't pay attention to politics before Bush was elected. I was young then.
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The way I understand it is that the "broadcast flag" (at least as proposed in the US) is basically on the honor system. To enforce it, the media cartels are still trying to pass a law that requires all tuner makers to "respect" it, basically creating a legal lock around the whole issue (see also: DMCA).
The subject pretty much sums it up.
Linux was (and is) supposed to be a Unix-type kernel. Nothing more, nothing less.
The thing is, we don't know how powerful the system will be until we see the games. The Cube wasn't really expected to be super extremely powerful, yet its graphics output was much closer to the Xbox than the PS2. I think it's definitely too early to judge.
Um, no. The DC went under because they couldn't grow their base to a size that could compete against the PS2, GC, and Xbox. They didn't have any support from EA either, which hurt a lot.
So does this mean Nickelback could get a patent on sucking?
"Redcoat"
"Kraut"
"Commie"
Wrong. "Algorithm" can be as low or high level as you like. I can write a list of instructions on how to make a turkey sandwich. That's an algorithm. I can also write instructions on how to best find the greatest common factor of two numbers. That's also an algorithm. It doesn't matter what the scope is.
Wow, this is probably a page right out of my CS 101 book. The word you're looking for here is algorithm. Computer Science is (mostly) the study of algorithms. So I dunno what kind of distinction you're trying to make.
Sure, managers and PHB-types might think it's a great idea to outsource programming. By doing this, you can get a similar-quality "product" for a much lower cost. But it's not all roses and cherub farts.
Programming is hard. There have been countless times where a project has not met the needs it was supposed to, and this often has to do with poor communication. Now throw in a few thousand miles difference from the customer and the coders, a time difference and possibly a language barrier. Is this going to make it easier to get what you need? The chance for miscommunication here goes up a huge amount. What also gets worse is turnaround time. The factors I've mentioned will definitely slow down some parts of the development.
I remember reading something before the US launch of the PS2 (it may have been EGM). The reporter was in a warehouse where all the launch-day machines were sitting, waiting to be shipped out. He said something like "I dunno if the logistics of moving all these machines is a bigger job than launching the space shuttle, but it's close".
This sounds suspiciously like a guy named "Stallman"...
You can call it either name and probably not be wrong. Wine is not entangled with the OS it's running on, so it could be considered "middleware". It also implements the API of Windows, so that's accurate as well.
I just thought I'd point out that a lot of consoles have had this happen. The PS2 has gone through a bunch of revisions, and I remember reading that when Nintendo redesigned the Super NES, part of the reason was to reduce the number of chips they had to put into it.
I thought you were talking about the business model they used for however long it was. Never mind.
Methinks we need to start tagging "tantrum" to this type of thing.
I think this has more to do with the size of the market for these devices. DAP players are still not completely mainstream, as they require a computer and either some technical knowledge or a friend that can teach you. Before Apple and Itunes, the MP3 player market was a lot smaller and the software/hardware was worse (not that it's a lot better now). But it's important to note that it took a few years for a "breakthrough" product to come along and destroy the rest of the industry under the force of its own common sense. I predict that someone else will find a magic forumla that will compete or overtake the iPod. It might just take a few years.
Obviously, some of them are members just because it looks good, but they are members nonetheless.
Based on the way the average voter can be brainwashed to vote for complete morons, and the lack of outcry over horrible legislation (DMCA, PATRIOT), and the lack of outcry over actual spying, I'd say that's what the average person wants.
Really? What's different in the market today? The Internet actually makes it easier to spread your music to new fans; instead of copying bootlegs that degrade, you can get a web site and use tech like Bittorrent or other P2P programs, reaching millions of people.
I don't believe that Samsung is a direct competitor to Apple in the DAP market, much the same way Dell isn't really a competitor to Apple in the desktop PC market. Apple goes after a pretty narrow market, and they're highly successful there. Samsung is more a more broad-ranging company sells tons of different things. It's a bit like comparing a small boutique carmaker to General Motors. Both make the same product, but are not really competing against each other.
Well, the telephone was technically around by the time of Lincoln's presidency (quoth Wikipedia), but I kinda doubt it was used until cheap recording systems and tiny microphones were invented. So yeah, this guy's pretty much an idiot, or was hoping that nobody would notice.
There's really a lot of variables going on with computer noise. You can have noisy fans and noisy components (like hard drives). Also, both of these two things can rub up against the other parts (usually the case) causing vibration noise.
I think a good way to start is to try and isolate the noisiest part, or the perhaps the part that drives you nuts the most. Then, you can replace or adjust that part. But be careful: it's important to watch out for heat. If you clock down your fans, they will move less air and things can overheat.
As for vibration, there's stuff like Dynamat that you can stick onto the inside of your case that "dampens" vibration. From what I've heard, dampening material can also cause heat to rise, so be careful here as well. I know I could use some, as just pressing my hand on the various sides of my case causes the noise to go down a bit. Also, things not being screwed together correctly can cause vibration.
I haven't read much of Thompson at all, but even so, to this I say hell yes.
*Shudder*
Disclosure: I didn't pay attention to politics before Bush was elected. I was young then.