I agree. Microsoft has been down the monopoly path before, and it only shows that no one can win. Though I'm a fan of neither Yahoo nor Microsoft, it would ultimately hurt the industry in this merger.
It seems like everyone is trying to jump into too many new markets these days. Google with Android, OpenSocial, Microsoft with the Zune... you get the idea.
Does have what it takes? I don't know, but it does seem odd that they have jumped into such a different market for them.
This also brings up a good point: Who is ultimately responsible? As far as I can see, Apple and Microsoft are responsible for creating a stable platform that can support and run third party applications. Third party developers are responsible for creating applications that work with what they are given, and don't do anything to screw with it.
Say you're doing some home improvement on your roof. You rent a ladder from a company, but it doesn't quite reach your roof. You sit it upon a chair to make it reach, resulting in your fall and injury. Who's responsible here? Apple shouldn't be blamed here, just as Microsoft shouldn't be blamed for third party app failures.
If on the other hand, the ladder broke as you were climbing it, they would be to blame. It's all a matter of knowing what you can do to an OS, and who ultimately causes the failure.
Isn't this the beginning of the huge "everything will have a computer in it" world that we have expected?
I know that technology can sometimes go to far, but something like this, if implemented correctly, could actually be extremely practical.
Could they have prevented this? I think so.
But let's face it: Google results are a great way to advertise on the internet. Do you find the products you're looking for on banner ads from other sites? I always use google to search for products and services that I want to find online.
Well, it's already been established that this whole package is way overpriced. But what hasn't been pointed out is that the actual package isn't what you need to automate your home.
So, what is home automation? Every day your coffee maker turns on at 6AM. Your computer speaks the weather report and the daily headlines. Can lifeware do that? Lifeware is a fancy MCE interface, that can control your home. But it can't automate your home. I've used HomeSeer for almost a year. It's more DIY than this package, but isn't that what every Slashdot user is looking for?
Something else that hasn't been mentioned - INSTEON. This is a new technology, but it's based on old X10 powerline. It's unreliable, and everything I've heard about it has been riddled with problems. Z-Wave is what I have in my home, it's RF based and the more devices you add the more reliable it becomes. 15 grand for old technology? Z-Wave is about the same price and it can defintely do far more.
Slashdot Mirror
I agree. Microsoft has been down the monopoly path before, and it only shows that no one can win. Though I'm a fan of neither Yahoo nor Microsoft, it would ultimately hurt the industry in this merger.
It seems like everyone is trying to jump into too many new markets these days. Google with Android, OpenSocial, Microsoft with the Zune ... you get the idea.
Does have what it takes? I don't know, but it does seem odd that they have jumped into such a different market for them.
This also brings up a good point: Who is ultimately responsible? As far as I can see, Apple and Microsoft are responsible for creating a stable platform that can support and run third party applications. Third party developers are responsible for creating applications that work with what they are given, and don't do anything to screw with it. Say you're doing some home improvement on your roof. You rent a ladder from a company, but it doesn't quite reach your roof. You sit it upon a chair to make it reach, resulting in your fall and injury. Who's responsible here? Apple shouldn't be blamed here, just as Microsoft shouldn't be blamed for third party app failures. If on the other hand, the ladder broke as you were climbing it, they would be to blame. It's all a matter of knowing what you can do to an OS, and who ultimately causes the failure.
Isn't this the beginning of the huge "everything will have a computer in it" world that we have expected? I know that technology can sometimes go to far, but something like this, if implemented correctly, could actually be extremely practical.
Ted Stevens, what are you up to now?
Why do third parties even need to complile these lists? Shoudln't Microsoft be on top of this?
Could they have prevented this? I think so. But let's face it: Google results are a great way to advertise on the internet. Do you find the products you're looking for on banner ads from other sites? I always use google to search for products and services that I want to find online.
Well, it's already been established that this whole package is way overpriced. But what hasn't been pointed out is that the actual package isn't what you need to automate your home.
So, what is home automation? Every day your coffee maker turns on at 6AM. Your computer speaks the weather report and the daily headlines. Can lifeware do that? Lifeware is a fancy MCE interface, that can control your home. But it can't automate your home. I've used HomeSeer for almost a year. It's more DIY than this package, but isn't that what every Slashdot user is looking for?
Something else that hasn't been mentioned - INSTEON. This is a new technology, but it's based on old X10 powerline. It's unreliable, and everything I've heard about it has been riddled with problems. Z-Wave is what I have in my home, it's RF based and the more devices you add the more reliable it becomes. 15 grand for old technology? Z-Wave is about the same price and it can defintely do far more.