Is that built into the firmware/hardware, or is it a function of the touchpad driver? Does it still behave that way when fully booted into Windows or Linux?
Something else to keep in mind about lossiness and source files: If a recording is made and mastered in the studio at 96kHz/24-bit, the step to your 44.1kHz/16-bit CD is considered "lossy" since information is being discarded along the way. However, again, this is taken into account when mastering for the CD format. The DVD-A/SACD masters will be done differently. So in a sense, many CDs that people consider to be "perfect" source files have already been through a round or two of degradation. Is it something that they'll ever notice? Not likely, especially if they aren't aware of it.
I remember talking about MP3s with an audio engineer friend about a decade ago. As an engineer, he said that he would prefer MP3s to be mastered for the format, which means any limitations of the MP3 and other compressed file formats would be taken into account to minimize/delete any perceivable quality loss. For instance, the cassette version of a recording is mastered differently from the CD version, since tape has different audio qualities (the same also applies for vinyl versions). They don't just stick the CD master onto cassette tapes. On this point, I fully agree with him. However, it seems that all of the AAC/MP3/WMA files that you can buy are sourced from CDs, rather than being mixed especially for the format.
It depends on how you intend to listen to your music. If you're going to be listening to earbuds while you're outside or working out at the gym or whatever, then compressed files are fine. Enough ambient noise will be getting through that you'll barely notice any compression artifacts, if at all. However, if you intend to listen to music through a nice set of headphones or speakers in a quiet listening environment, then you'll want it to be as uncompressed as possible. The same generally applies for music with wide dynamic ranges, such as classical/orchestral music.
As a gamer who's growing older (heading into my mid-thirties), I realize my response will likely anger many younger gamers who have 10 hours a day to play games. The maximum length I want a game to be these days is 25-30 hours. If it's a mindless platformer, I only want 10-15 hours out of it before I get bored. I have played some RPGs that go longer than 30 hours, but by that point I just want it to wrap itself up. For me, it's hard to make the time to play anything longer.
I'm looking forward to it not only because the PSP will get a larger library, but beccausee there's lots of PS1 titles that are obscure and otherwise impossible to find.
I could be wrong, but I get the feeling you won't be seeing some of those obscure PS1 titles available for the PSP.
This is your last chance to take advantage of SCO's special licensing offer of only $699 per computer. Better get those orders in before it's too late!
With Verizon now charging users to access content contained on YouTube, doesn't that open the door even wider regarding charges of copyright infringement? Now that money is being exchanged for the service, it seems that copyright owners could now go after Verizon (and Google) for selling copyrighted material that isn't theirs to sell.
Sure it is. Cos when you return a movie late, they have to run it under the barcode machine to check it back in, then they have to put it back on the shelf. You don't think they'd offer this service for free, do you? I mean, when you return a regular movie "on time," they have to run it under the barcode machine to check it back in, and then they have to put it back on the shelf. Totally different! It makes perfect sense that they'd charge you a "restocking fee" in one instance, but not the other. I sure am glad they did away with those "late fees."
There are instances of backwards compatibility issues, even though Microsoft claims the file formats are the same. I recently received a Word document from someone that had a table that spanned 5 pages. The first page appeared fine, but the table was then truncated on pages 2 through 5. Essentially, it ran off the bottom of the page and started on the next page further down the table than it should have (ex, page 1:a,b,c,d; page 2:e,f,g,h [table cells running off the bottom of the page]; page 3:k,l,m,n [runs off bottom]; page 4:r,s,t,u etc). Both Office 2000 and OpenOffice exhibited this behavior. The only thing that would open it properly was the Word 2003 60-day demo from Microsoft's site. Thankfully, I was able to use that in a VM to do what I needed to do to the file.
So while you may not have encountered issues, they do exist and there are people out there who have had to deal with them.
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Now whether or not its a Good Idea(TM), that is a tough call.
Oh, I suppose you have a better idea for winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people...
s/to/too
I think they should just wrap the moon in some sort of trampoline-like material to reflect the meteor(ite)s. And it shall be dubbed the Moon Bounce!
Thanks for the info. That's pretty much what I figured the situation was, but I wanted confirmation.
Is that built into the firmware/hardware, or is it a function of the touchpad driver? Does it still behave that way when fully booted into Windows or Linux?
Something else to keep in mind about lossiness and source files: If a recording is made and mastered in the studio at 96kHz/24-bit, the step to your 44.1kHz/16-bit CD is considered "lossy" since information is being discarded along the way. However, again, this is taken into account when mastering for the CD format. The DVD-A/SACD masters will be done differently. So in a sense, many CDs that people consider to be "perfect" source files have already been through a round or two of degradation. Is it something that they'll ever notice? Not likely, especially if they aren't aware of it.
I remember talking about MP3s with an audio engineer friend about a decade ago. As an engineer, he said that he would prefer MP3s to be mastered for the format, which means any limitations of the MP3 and other compressed file formats would be taken into account to minimize/delete any perceivable quality loss. For instance, the cassette version of a recording is mastered differently from the CD version, since tape has different audio qualities (the same also applies for vinyl versions). They don't just stick the CD master onto cassette tapes. On this point, I fully agree with him. However, it seems that all of the AAC/MP3/WMA files that you can buy are sourced from CDs, rather than being mixed especially for the format.
It depends on how you intend to listen to your music. If you're going to be listening to earbuds while you're outside or working out at the gym or whatever, then compressed files are fine. Enough ambient noise will be getting through that you'll barely notice any compression artifacts, if at all. However, if you intend to listen to music through a nice set of headphones or speakers in a quiet listening environment, then you'll want it to be as uncompressed as possible. The same generally applies for music with wide dynamic ranges, such as classical/orchestral music.
As a gamer who's growing older (heading into my mid-thirties), I realize my response will likely anger many younger gamers who have 10 hours a day to play games. The maximum length I want a game to be these days is 25-30 hours. If it's a mindless platformer, I only want 10-15 hours out of it before I get bored. I have played some RPGs that go longer than 30 hours, but by that point I just want it to wrap itself up. For me, it's hard to make the time to play anything longer.
FYI, font anti-aliasing is not the same as sub-pixel rendering. However, they both give you smoother edges for screen fonts.
I'm looking forward to it not only because the PSP will get a larger library, but beccausee there's lots of PS1 titles that are obscure and otherwise impossible to find.
I could be wrong, but I get the feeling you won't be seeing some of those obscure PS1 titles available for the PSP.
This is your last chance to take advantage of SCO's special licensing offer of only $699 per computer. Better get those orders in before it's too late!
easy to say if you make a decent living, try makin 20gs a year and budget out money for cds and movies its fucking impossible
If you can barely deal with buying food and keeping shelter, maybe, just maybe, music and movies shouldn't be at the top of your priority list.
With Verizon now charging users to access content contained on YouTube, doesn't that open the door even wider regarding charges of copyright infringement? Now that money is being exchanged for the service, it seems that copyright owners could now go after Verizon (and Google) for selling copyrighted material that isn't theirs to sell.
Sure it is. Cos when you return a movie late, they have to run it under the barcode machine to check it back in, then they have to put it back on the shelf. You don't think they'd offer this service for free, do you? I mean, when you return a regular movie "on time," they have to run it under the barcode machine to check it back in, and then they have to put it back on the shelf. Totally different! It makes perfect sense that they'd charge you a "restocking fee" in one instance, but not the other. I sure am glad they did away with those "late fees."
Microsoft released a product/service before it was ready?!? Tell me it ain't so!
Office Depot has their own special color for the Zune--copper! I guess they don't think 'brown' is very sexy...
I can't wait to see the picture of the guy in the housewares aisle...
Breasts is an option, yet Tackhead votes for Snu-Snu. Go figure...
But it will DEFINITELY be Web2.0. Or maybe even Web2.1!
There are instances of backwards compatibility issues, even though Microsoft claims the file formats are the same. I recently received a Word document from someone that had a table that spanned 5 pages. The first page appeared fine, but the table was then truncated on pages 2 through 5. Essentially, it ran off the bottom of the page and started on the next page further down the table than it should have (ex, page 1:a,b,c,d; page 2:e,f,g,h [table cells running off the bottom of the page]; page 3:k,l,m,n [runs off bottom]; page 4:r,s,t,u etc). Both Office 2000 and OpenOffice exhibited this behavior. The only thing that would open it properly was the Word 2003 60-day demo from Microsoft's site. Thankfully, I was able to use that in a VM to do what I needed to do to the file.
So while you may not have encountered issues, they do exist and there are people out there who have had to deal with them.
You're a pretty sharp one there, Mikey. I predict big things for you!
I would be more interesed to see a controller opened.
Why do I have a funny feeling that you didn't bother to RTFA?
Hey, keep your BDSM fetish sites to yourself!
did they just plough through the setup wizards clicking Yes to everything??
[YES] NO CANCEL
*click*