After another four weeks, The BFDI told Alvaro's office in a telephone call that the request had still not been forwarded to American authorities. There was, still no agreement between the US authorities and the BFDI. The American authorities would require still more data from the applicant. Nevertheless, Alvaro consented to have the data in question forwarded to the American authorities.
While indeed the article is not clear, it seems to me that the US authorities are not providing a mechanism for BFDI (or presumably any other European agency) to request the information that they HAVE to provide according to the agreement. The BFDI essentially says, we can send this info, but the Americans don't really agree it is adequate and don't really specify WHAT is adequate.
It does not look like the BFDI was deliberating with itself on what to send, "There was, still no agreement between the US authorities and the BFDI", so the BFDI was communicating with the US authorities to try and get the requirements to make the request. Agreed though, it could be clearer in the article.
Notice the "X"? Similarly, MS and IBM had "OS/2", that was probably trademarked too.
It would be a very different issue if they were trying to trademark "Apple App Store" or even "App Store X"...
I think you are not seeing it correctly, the GP post is right. They did take a general user interface element and named their OS after it. That does not mean you cannot use "windows" to describe the GUI element, but you cannot ALSO name your OS "Weendows" or "Window OS" or whatever is confusingly similar to Windows. IANAL but as I understand it you could call your OS "Mouse Pointer" and trademark it, and no-one could use such a name for another OS.
Now, what Apple is similar to trying to trademark "OS" as a name for their Operating System. Well, Application Store is the description of the item in question, and App Store is the short version used in many cases way before apple. I remember using the term myself.
Canonical had started porting Dalvik to Ubuntu, but it seems they stopped...
If Intel ports Dalvik to MeeGo, they would instantly get access to all the Android apps. In fact, a MeeGo device could potentially launch different versions of the Android OS depending on what the user wants to run, making it the most compatible Android device!
PS. I had made a longer (and better) post about the above, previewed it, then saw it submitted and posted correctly on the thread, but now it has just vanished (along with another couple of posts I made earlier today). Is this one of the new layout kinks?
multichannel LPCM-audio over HDMI ?.. I haven't looked at the state of AMD video card support in Linux for a while but as recently as a couple of years ago, NVidia was the pretty much the only usable option for media centers.
I found your post pretty amusing for a couple of reasons. First, it was quite a while after AMD/ATI had LPCM-audio over HDMI support on their graphics cards that nVidia matched that feature (though they had some integrated solutions). No, two years ago you couldn't have had an nVidia card with LPCM-audio over HDMI on Linux because no nVidia card with that feature existed, but I assume the Radeon HD 4xxx series at the time would work since it supported ALSA. I have not tried it myself though, the reason taking us to the second reason of finding your post amusing.
I love my Linux workstation. I can't find anything more efficient than a multi-monitor KDE setup to work on and really hate it that nowadays I have to do much work on a (dual-monitor) Mac due to my job requirements. But I still have a Windows machine driving my home theater. It is already a lot of work keeping it up with all developments so that it can play properly my entire collection of various format media files, DVD, HD-DVD, Bluray etc. Sadly, I know from experience, it would be an almost impossible task for my Linux machines, regardless of hardware. So when you say "the only usable option for media centers" and refer to a Linux machine it sounds at least strange. As much as I love using Linux, it is not just an nVidia card what is missing from it to be the base of a good HTPC. (I assume by "media center" you did NOT mean music center, which is not something hard for a Linux server, otherwise you wouldn't be asking for LPCM over HDMI.)
Exactly my feeling and situation. After an MS in CS at a decent US University (my European BS is in Physics), I started working as an H1-b at a US firm. After two years, I am one of the most valuable members of my group and my employer definitely wants to keep me here in NY, however my fiancee is from Europe and cannot work legally here (even if I marry her). It is kind of harder for her to get an H1-b visa (her BA is in Classics, plus H1-b's are snatched instantly). The company lawyer told me that it is highly unlikely for me to get a Green card in the foreseeable future, no matter how indispensable my employer thinks I am, since according to the rules, I cannot use my experience in the current company as part of my qualifications to justify the Green card. And of course the fact that you might be exceptionally good does not matter in the application for a Green Card (unless you have made headlines - there is provision for Nobel price winners etc). So, I am kind of thinking of heading back home, of course I do make enough for a family here but my fiancee hates not being able to work and I can't blame her... You don't have to say the US will loose if I myself leave (you don't know me to judge if it is the case), but I am sure there are many talented people out there in such a situation.
Rentals have high failure rates? Who would have thought!
20 min call for troubleshooting before RMA? Preposterous! Dell is always taking me at least 3 hours, MS techs must by lazy.
On another note it becomes more and more clear that in order to get something posted on/. it doesn't have to be smart, interesting, to the point or sometimes even factual, I just have to come up with something that makes MS look bad! And don't you start "welcome to slashdot n00b!";)
There are three analysts on TFA and the first two basically don't declare a winner. It's far too early in the game, so it is better if they don't risk such estimates based on wild speculation. Now there is the third, "respected" analyst. Example argument from TFA:
"If I'm right, Sony will end up winning the high-definition format war, and once there are millions of Blu-ray enabled PS3s floating around, I think we will see sharper graphics on PS3 games compared to Xbox 360 games."
Where does he base this? Because maybe just because the PS/3 touts "1080p"? Or because Blue Ray "is larger so it can fit sharper graphics... and stuff". Any hardware geek (like several here), just looking at the specs can see that the 360 has a more capable GPU (compare unreleased R600 level GPU to previous gen G70...), and a CPU which is easier to use effectively. Not to mention that by 2009 when the PS/3 will have become "affordable", it will no longer be a nexgen system, so it will only sell if it already has a huge base (thus developer support).
I don't see such a bright future for the PS/3, unless something big happens (half price anyone?), but if Sony wins the HD wars, they will probably not really care. Royalties from Blue Ray will bring more money:)
A couple more to consider. Back when I was doing separate registration/hosting I was using domaininvestigator.com, for their (performance & features)/price. They never failed me. My personal domain is still on them. However, as I started using 1and1 for hosting sites, it was more convenient to use them for registering. They too have never failed me and I think they are even cheaper at registering.
I guess the theoretical reason to buy a huge TV is daytime watching at a bright environment. Ok, and it is easier to setup, but a good 60 inch TV will certainly cost more than a good projector + 120" screen + professional installation. I imagine that the real reason though is plain ignorance. Personaly, I don't have an environment that can become dark easily, but I mostly work during daytime, so it is not an issue for me. There are the bad effects of watching a 120" DLP projected screen. First of all you become kind of a snob. My (very wealthy) cousin was showing off his new house last year, and the "tour" included the rec room with a 70" Sony HDTV. Yeah great I said, trying not to show I am squinting (his couch was farther from the screen than my couch is in front of the 120" screen). Also I don't enjoy most movie theaters any more - IMAX is the only movie experience that is trully worth it for me over the convenience of my living room. In any case I cannot imagine "home cinema" being anything smaller than 120". Otherwise it is simly "TV". Granted, the plasma displays give the best image in movies than any technology, especially projection, but even at their maximum size the experience for me is still lacking.
It is not a very good analogy. First, the Neo Geo's $600 (or $650 according to Wikipedia) adjusted for inflation would be about $925 today (or $1000 if we take Wikipedia's price point). Secondly, the Neo Geo had some vastly superior characteristics to all other consoles of the time. If you don't buy into the Sony BS, you will realize the PS3 is definately not more advanced than even a year old console (the XBOX even has a superior GPU). What I am saying is that the Neo Geo was expensive due to parts that were giving it a gaming edge. If it could cost as much as the PS3 now ($500-$600 current) and more importantly, its games were not $200 each (inflation gives about $300 current USD !!! ), it would have sold like crazy. It is just the BlueRay that is bumping the cost. It is obvious they did it to help in the war against HD-DVD, which could in the end bring them much more money in royalties than any console could. But they hurt the PS3 chances badly.
But both will give you syphilis if you don't wear a condom...
Hmm, mod me insightful if you find a deep meaningful analogy to the OS debate, hidden in the above. I personally could not, but of course I posted anyway.
Oh, I forgot to mention, in case it is not clear. The cards I am talking about, that behave differently in Europe, are ideed Visa, Mastercard etc. Only the banks that issue them are not US banks.
You have no idea what you are talking about. First of all, in Europe there are no central credit bureaus etc. the credit system works entirelly different. I know at least one EU country (Greece) where it is an official credit card policy to cancel immediatelly a payment at the request of the card holder, if the card was not physically present at the transaction (i.e. it was not swiped). After that, the company that made the charge has to prove its validity, and not the other way around like in the US. I would only guess that this is enough to annoy several merchants. Not to mention the usual fear of parts of the world with high fraud rates. Anyway, you ask how they know it. I have a hunch that because of the differences I mentioned above, just by the CC number an online system would know if the card is a US card. Otherwise they still see your billing address, or as you put it: you tell them:)
Oh really? My sister lives in Europe and at least once a month she comes across something that cannot be sent overseas. Things are getting better, but still she rather frequently has to send things to me in NY (which I then send to her or carry when I visit). Up to one point she was using her European credit card, but she came across merchants who would not accept non-US credit cards. The largest company with this policy that I remember is Nike. I don't know if they changed this, but it was so until about a year ago when my sis last tried it.
Sorry my friend, but it seems that Google's fault here is to have added Ritz Camera to its Checkout service. Why am I saying this? 1. Did you notice that Ritz Camera has a 1.37 reseller rating? http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Ritz_Camera_7 2. On the above link there is at least one story similar to your own where Ritz had to admit it was their fault (that customer apparently did not take their BS) and even offer a $25 gift card! 3. It should have been obvious to you that for a system, especially from a company with such an excellent track record in online applications, it would have been a little hard to send an event to the end user without receiving an event from Ritz Camera. Similarly, when Ritz send the cancellation event, Google Checkout send the cancellation message as it should.
Well, most services coming from US-based companies only support US residents. Most US merchants won't ship outside US - google checkout or not - and many won't accept non-US credit cards even for shipping within the US. It is unfortunate, but it is not something to complain about when it comes to google checkout, since this behavior is the norm and not an exception. But give it a little time, I am sure it would be much harder for google to support non-US customers, but if it can be done they might do it eventually.
This is very weird. I used google checkout for more than 15 checkouts so far (and about a similar amount of paypal checkouts - mainly ebay - for the same period) and I was impressed by how much faster google checkout was. I admit I only tried google thanks to the amazing $10-$20 off promos, but it really did seem to me way better than paypal. I guess if I had an order cancelled I would complain - but in such a case do we know for sure it is google's fault and not the merchants? Forgeting about ease of checkout, I always hoped for a paypal rival, since paypal has a severely bad track record of not paying or at least widtholding amounts with absurd excuses etc.
Hmm, according to acronymfinder it should be Vacuum Tube (or Vermont). I think I remember talk about the Vacuum Tube replacing the transistor... oh wait...
I am sorry, but isn't the move to Open Office going to cost more? Think of the RAM upgrades needed and the loss in productivity. No, I am not a Windoze fanboi - I would consider moving to something like KOffice to be a "cheap" and effective solution for most uses. Of course, if I already had the licences I would stick with Office 2000 which is a fine product (at least better than Office 97 and Office XP). And that is especially if you work with spreadsheets. Excel is the one app that MS got very right.
Slashdot Mirror
After another four weeks, The BFDI told Alvaro's office in a telephone call that the request had still not been forwarded to American authorities. There was, still no agreement between the US authorities and the BFDI. The American authorities would require still more data from the applicant. Nevertheless, Alvaro consented to have the data in question forwarded to the American authorities.
While indeed the article is not clear, it seems to me that the US authorities are not providing a mechanism for BFDI (or presumably any other European agency) to request the information that they HAVE to provide according to the agreement. The BFDI essentially says, we can send this info, but the Americans don't really agree it is adequate and don't really specify WHAT is adequate. It does not look like the BFDI was deliberating with itself on what to send, "There was, still no agreement between the US authorities and the BFDI", so the BFDI was communicating with the US authorities to try and get the requirements to make the request. Agreed though, it could be clearer in the article.
Notice the "X"? Similarly, MS and IBM had "OS/2", that was probably trademarked too. It would be a very different issue if they were trying to trademark "Apple App Store" or even "App Store X"...
I think you are not seeing it correctly, the GP post is right. They did take a general user interface element and named their OS after it. That does not mean you cannot use "windows" to describe the GUI element, but you cannot ALSO name your OS "Weendows" or "Window OS" or whatever is confusingly similar to Windows. IANAL but as I understand it you could call your OS "Mouse Pointer" and trademark it, and no-one could use such a name for another OS. Now, what Apple is similar to trying to trademark "OS" as a name for their Operating System. Well, Application Store is the description of the item in question, and App Store is the short version used in many cases way before apple. I remember using the term myself.
Canonical had started porting Dalvik to Ubuntu, but it seems they stopped... If Intel ports Dalvik to MeeGo, they would instantly get access to all the Android apps. In fact, a MeeGo device could potentially launch different versions of the Android OS depending on what the user wants to run, making it the most compatible Android device! PS. I had made a longer (and better) post about the above, previewed it, then saw it submitted and posted correctly on the thread, but now it has just vanished (along with another couple of posts I made earlier today). Is this one of the new layout kinks?
multichannel LPCM-audio over HDMI ? .. I haven't looked at the state of AMD video card support in Linux for a while but as recently as a couple of years ago, NVidia was the pretty much the only usable option for media centers.
I found your post pretty amusing for a couple of reasons. First, it was quite a while after AMD/ATI had LPCM-audio over HDMI support on their graphics cards that nVidia matched that feature (though they had some integrated solutions). No, two years ago you couldn't have had an nVidia card with LPCM-audio over HDMI on Linux because no nVidia card with that feature existed, but I assume the Radeon HD 4xxx series at the time would work since it supported ALSA. I have not tried it myself though, the reason taking us to the second reason of finding your post amusing. I love my Linux workstation. I can't find anything more efficient than a multi-monitor KDE setup to work on and really hate it that nowadays I have to do much work on a (dual-monitor) Mac due to my job requirements. But I still have a Windows machine driving my home theater. It is already a lot of work keeping it up with all developments so that it can play properly my entire collection of various format media files, DVD, HD-DVD, Bluray etc. Sadly, I know from experience, it would be an almost impossible task for my Linux machines, regardless of hardware. So when you say "the only usable option for media centers" and refer to a Linux machine it sounds at least strange. As much as I love using Linux, it is not just an nVidia card what is missing from it to be the base of a good HTPC. (I assume by "media center" you did NOT mean music center, which is not something hard for a Linux server, otherwise you wouldn't be asking for LPCM over HDMI.)
Hmm, I wonder why firefox corrected my "flyer" to "flier". It seems I had it right and flyer is valid...
Exactly my feeling and situation. After an MS in CS at a decent US University (my European BS is in Physics), I started working as an H1-b at a US firm. After two years, I am one of the most valuable members of my group and my employer definitely wants to keep me here in NY, however my fiancee is from Europe and cannot work legally here (even if I marry her). It is kind of harder for her to get an H1-b visa (her BA is in Classics, plus H1-b's are snatched instantly). The company lawyer told me that it is highly unlikely for me to get a Green card in the foreseeable future, no matter how indispensable my employer thinks I am, since according to the rules, I cannot use my experience in the current company as part of my qualifications to justify the Green card. And of course the fact that you might be exceptionally good does not matter in the application for a Green Card (unless you have made headlines - there is provision for Nobel price winners etc). So, I am kind of thinking of heading back home, of course I do make enough for a family here but my fiancee hates not being able to work and I can't blame her...
You don't have to say the US will loose if I myself leave (you don't know me to judge if it is the case), but I am sure there are many talented people out there in such a situation.
Rentals have high failure rates? Who would have thought!
/. it doesn't have to be smart, interesting, to the point or sometimes even factual, I just have to come up with something that makes MS look bad! And don't you start "welcome to slashdot n00b!" ;)
20 min call for troubleshooting before RMA? Preposterous! Dell is always taking me at least 3 hours, MS techs must by lazy.
On another note it becomes more and more clear that in order to get something posted on
There are three analysts on TFA and the first two basically don't declare a winner. It's far too early in the game, so it is better if they don't risk such estimates based on wild speculation.
:)
Now there is the third, "respected" analyst. Example argument from TFA:
"If I'm right, Sony will end up winning the high-definition format war, and once there are millions of Blu-ray enabled PS3s floating around, I think we will see sharper graphics on PS3 games compared to Xbox 360 games."
Where does he base this? Because maybe just because the PS/3 touts "1080p"? Or because Blue Ray "is larger so it can fit sharper graphics... and stuff". Any hardware geek (like several here), just looking at the specs can see that the 360 has a more capable GPU (compare unreleased R600 level GPU to previous gen G70...), and a CPU which is easier to use effectively.
Not to mention that by 2009 when the PS/3 will have become "affordable", it will no longer be a nexgen system, so it will only sell if it already has a huge base (thus developer support).
I don't see such a bright future for the PS/3, unless something big happens (half price anyone?), but if Sony wins the HD wars, they will probably not really care. Royalties from Blue Ray will bring more money
alt_title = 1 / Duke Nuken Forever
A couple more to consider.
Back when I was doing separate registration/hosting I was using domaininvestigator.com, for their (performance & features)/price. They never failed me. My personal domain is still on them.
However, as I started using 1and1 for hosting sites, it was more convenient to use them for registering. They too have never failed me and I think they are even cheaper at registering.
I guess the theoretical reason to buy a huge TV is daytime watching at a bright environment. Ok, and it is easier to setup, but a good 60 inch TV will certainly cost more than a good projector + 120" screen + professional installation.
I imagine that the real reason though is plain ignorance.
Personaly, I don't have an environment that can become dark easily, but I mostly work during daytime, so it is not an issue for me.
There are the bad effects of watching a 120" DLP projected screen. First of all you become kind of a snob. My (very wealthy) cousin was showing off his new house last year, and the "tour" included the rec room with a 70" Sony HDTV. Yeah great I said, trying not to show I am squinting (his couch was farther from the screen than my couch is in front of the 120" screen). Also I don't enjoy most movie theaters any more - IMAX is the only movie experience that is trully worth it for me over the convenience of my living room.
In any case I cannot imagine "home cinema" being anything smaller than 120". Otherwise it is simly "TV". Granted, the plasma displays give the best image in movies than any technology, especially projection, but even at their maximum size the experience for me is still lacking.
It is not a very good analogy. First, the Neo Geo's $600 (or $650 according to Wikipedia) adjusted for inflation would be about $925 today (or $1000 if we take Wikipedia's price point).
Secondly, the Neo Geo had some vastly superior characteristics to all other consoles of the time. If you don't buy into the Sony BS, you will realize the PS3 is definately not more advanced than even a year old console (the XBOX even has a superior GPU).
What I am saying is that the Neo Geo was expensive due to parts that were giving it a gaming edge. If it could cost as much as the PS3 now ($500-$600 current) and more importantly, its games were not $200 each (inflation gives about $300 current USD !!! ), it would have sold like crazy.
It is just the BlueRay that is bumping the cost. It is obvious they did it to help in the war against HD-DVD, which could in the end bring them much more money in royalties than any console could. But they hurt the PS3 chances badly.
But both will give you syphilis if you don't wear a condom...
Hmm, mod me insightful if you find a deep meaningful analogy to the OS debate, hidden in the above. I personally could not, but of course I posted anyway.
They are just getting more reviews (google's promo gave them customers it seems). Their rating was always lousy:
Month Reviews Rating
1 January 11 1.14
12 December 31 0.73
11 November 3 0.00
10 October 3 0.83
9 September 0 n/a
8 August 0 n/a
7 July 7 1.07
"Thank you for your anecdotal evidence, now we can throw away the empiric data on 1100 customers."
:)
Yep! In real slashdot spirit!
You can always disregard 1100 Anonymous Cowards in favor of a registered Slashdot user with good Karma!
Oh, I forgot to mention, in case it is not clear. The cards I am talking about, that behave differently in Europe, are ideed Visa, Mastercard etc. Only the banks that issue them are not US banks.
You have no idea what you are talking about. First of all, in Europe there are no central credit bureaus etc. the credit system works entirelly different. I know at least one EU country (Greece) where it is an official credit card policy to cancel immediatelly a payment at the request of the card holder, if the card was not physically present at the transaction (i.e. it was not swiped). After that, the company that made the charge has to prove its validity, and not the other way around like in the US. I would only guess that this is enough to annoy several merchants. Not to mention the usual fear of parts of the world with high fraud rates. :)
Anyway, you ask how they know it. I have a hunch that because of the differences I mentioned above, just by the CC number an online system would know if the card is a US card. Otherwise they still see your billing address, or as you put it: you tell them
Oh really?
My sister lives in Europe and at least once a month she comes across something that cannot be sent overseas. Things are getting better, but still she rather frequently has to send things to me in NY (which I then send to her or carry when I visit).
Up to one point she was using her European credit card, but she came across merchants who would not accept non-US credit cards. The largest company with this policy that I remember is Nike. I don't know if they changed this, but it was so until about a year ago when my sis last tried it.
Sorry my friend, but it seems that Google's fault here is to have added Ritz Camera to its Checkout service. Why am I saying this?7
1. Did you notice that Ritz Camera has a 1.37 reseller rating? http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Ritz_Camera_
2. On the above link there is at least one story similar to your own where Ritz had to admit it was their fault (that customer apparently did not take their BS) and even offer a $25 gift card!
3. It should have been obvious to you that for a system, especially from a company with such an excellent track record in online applications, it would have been a little hard to send an event to the end user without receiving an event from Ritz Camera. Similarly, when Ritz send the cancellation event, Google Checkout send the cancellation message as it should.
Well, most services coming from US-based companies only support US residents. Most US merchants won't ship outside US - google checkout or not - and many won't accept non-US credit cards even for shipping within the US. It is unfortunate, but it is not something to complain about when it comes to google checkout, since this behavior is the norm and not an exception.
But give it a little time, I am sure it would be much harder for google to support non-US customers, but if it can be done they might do it eventually.
This is very weird. I used google checkout for more than 15 checkouts so far (and about a similar amount of paypal checkouts - mainly ebay - for the same period) and I was impressed by how much faster google checkout was.
I admit I only tried google thanks to the amazing $10-$20 off promos, but it really did seem to me way better than paypal. I guess if I had an order cancelled I would complain - but in such a case do we know for sure it is google's fault and not the merchants?
Forgeting about ease of checkout, I always hoped for a paypal rival, since paypal has a severely bad track record of not paying or at least widtholding amounts with absurd excuses etc.
Hmm, according to acronymfinder it should be Vacuum Tube (or Vermont). I think I remember talk about the Vacuum Tube replacing the transistor... oh wait...
Why is this modded funny? Parent is serious. Sports drinks would have been safe (though I am not positive Gatorade specifically has electrolytes).
I am sorry, but isn't the move to Open Office going to cost more? Think of the RAM upgrades needed and the loss in productivity.
No, I am not a Windoze fanboi - I would consider moving to something like KOffice to be a "cheap" and effective solution for most uses. Of course, if I already had the licences I would stick with Office 2000 which is a fine product (at least better than Office 97 and Office XP). And that is especially if you work with spreadsheets. Excel is the one app that MS got very right.