It's not about instant gratification, it's about quality of life. Where is it written that the crush of crowds during rush hour is noble? Why is it better to waste time waiting in line at a bus station, only to stand packed in like sardines for a 30-minute ride next to hot, sweaty strangers, than to have those same large groups of people move quickly and stress-free to their respective destinations? Why would I want to endure the agony of the LA freeway (or any road in Japan, for that matter), where it may take anywhere from 20 to 120 minutes to cover the same distance that a car in the countryside could cover in 10?
This isn't about speed, it's about getting things to move along more smoothly. Wasting two hours a day or more of my life sitting around waiting to get somewhere is not a good use of anyone's time. Ironically, the current method gives you plenty of time to smell things - exhaust, sweat, pollution - but it could hardly be viewed as philosophically superior, don't you think?
It's a sign of our times that people spend a lot of effort finding ways to "kill time" on their commutes. People mover solutions are all about making time, which is a good thing.
Regardless of the interface, the GIMP's most serious problems lie under the hood. It lacks the speed, processing power and features of Photoshop (despite Adobe's best efforts). It lacks professional-quality color management, and it can't handle the color spaces and bit depths necessary to be competitive (newspapers especially are going to feel the hurt when they are forced to use software that doesn't have native support for CMYK). Finally, it has the worst product name of any piece of software ever; it's not even your standard unpronounceable or esoteric; it's downright offensive.
Too bad there isn't a mod for "insightful troll". There is no real parallel to be drawn between Apple's response and BP's response (unless you want to do a pass/fail "they responded", and you're willing to equate "epic international disaster" with "people complain because they can't get a signal"). Also, I'm guessing you don't actually buy Apple products. I personally am up for a new iPhone, so will take the upgrade because an iPhone 4 beats the heck out of a 3G version, and the signal strength is also a major improvement over the old model. Of course, living in Japan, with its comprehensive tower coverage, and typically using the hands-free method for talking, anyway, I seriously doubt I'll notice the difference.
I will say, though, that living with dual strabismus (no depth perception, lazy eye, and I can consciously suppress the input of one eye or the other) is no picnic. I didn't think the 3D movie thing was that great to start with.
I can see where the problem could arise. Stereo vision occurs in the brain, not the eyes; as others have said, you can potentially get lazy when your eyes are of two different powers and lose the ability. In my case, I can't re-learn something I never learned how to do properly in the first place.
To be fair, the doctor told me that stereo vision is learned before the age of five, which is how I slipped through the cracks. However, since children's brains stay fairly flexible up until the age of 12, I wouldn't doubt that it's something that can be unlearned again. Screw that. There isn't anything 3D brings to the table that isn't a gimmick. If my kids want to experience 3D, they can go outside and play in the real world.
Re:Oh good! The trolls are out in full force!
on
iOS 4 Releases Today
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· Score: 1
Can you name any other cell phones previous to the iPhone that let you buy applications for them? Were they open? Could you buy them from just anywhere?
In Japan, for example, cell phone applications were available for sale in 2002, when I first got here. They usually cost the equivalent of $3 USD per copy, and better still, often charged you a monthly fee to keep using them. Needless to say, the applications were only available from the cell phone provider's network. There was no backup of the software, either; if your phone was damaged or lost, you were screwed. Software was also available on a model-by-model basis, and if your model was more than a year old, was likely not available at all.
They later introduced "PC Web" browsing, which allowed you to see actual web pages on a screen half the size of the iPhone screen. Each use of the browser cost $3, with additional charges assessed based on data transfer amounts. You could, of course, buy their unlimited data plan, which would tack an additional $50 onto your cell phone bill (usually on top of $50 base charges, which didn't include any kind of "free minute" allowance).
Transferring personal files, such as addresses, photos, music, or movies to the cell phones was excruciating at best, if not impossible. You had to buy third-party software that gave you only minimal access to files, and usually only for download, not upload. The only things I miss from my Japanese cell phone are the QR code reader and the IR data transfer. Oh, and the battery life, of course.
You can hate on Apple for blocking stuff like Google Voice, but keep in mind that such things may not be completely frivolous, or even completely within Apple's control. Apple currently doesn't allow any VoIP application that runs over 3G, and that's because their cell phone network partners won't allow it, as it would potentially supersede their service and eat into their profits. Skype has just now started offering their service over 3G, but they are also going to start charging for it by the end of the summer. One can assume that they've worked out a profit-sharing deal with the providers to appease their fears.
What has Apple done specifically that has been detrimental to you? Are you a developer who had your application rejected out of hand, after you spent six months sweating over the code? Is everyone who disagrees with your opinion over Apple automatically a fanboy, just because they don't hate them as much as you do?
Actually, if you've ever played Monopoly and gotten to the point where someone else owns Park Place, Boardwalk, and all the railroads, you're pretty much screwed, which sounds *exactly* like real life. You could also equivocate losing with "wrecking the game", since the game reaches a certain point where it cannot continue (and there's only one winner). Also, it doesn't take much to destroy the "smart play and careful management" approach, either, since your piece moves at the whim of the dice. I do agree, though, that at least with Monopoly, you can start the game over again from the beginning.
Actually, most companies like dealing with the government just fine, because they combine just the right balance of gullibility and deep pockets. I remember when a university-affiliated production studio I worked at spent $42,000 on a RealMedia distance-learning system from Dell that involved about $10,000 in equipment, but they had to pay that price because we were locked into a contract with them.
So it's possible to distinguish the pixels if you hold it close enough. There is no fixed distance to base a judgement on, however. Inches? Centimeters? Since most of the world is metric, 12 inches is no good, anyway.
Point 2 no longer applies (RTFAs that have been floating around the net for over two months now), as the newest iPhone OS supports multitasking. It also now supports services in the background with a notification system.
The number of people who actually want to replace their keyboard and home screen number in the dozens, so I don't think that it's really a valid concern for 99.99% of customers out there.
Finally, exactly what other OSes besides Android can you/have you installed on your Nexus One?
As for the other points: the iPhone offers tethering, but it requires the carrier to cooperate. Not Apple's fault. Point 4 is mostly a developer concern, as it would take a prohibitive amount of time for even the ambitious user to exhaust the repository of applications already available. Most commercial systems out there require investment in an IDE, so putting this at Apple's feet is disingenuous. Google just underwrites their costs by data-mining your searches and selling ads through their service, so the cost is still there. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Apple's closed marketplace may be distasteful, but you have to hand it to them: they don't have any viruses on a system with always-on access to a cell phone network. I'm just waiting for the day that Android gets nailed with that one.
I find that the cell phone companies' policies by default still eclipse anything Apple has tried to do to me lately. If you're in the States, buying anything that requires AT&T's service coverage seems rather futile, anyway (and considering the inadequate coverage that even the best providers offer, I'm happy to stay in Japan for now). Exactly what draconian policy do they have that makes you want to avoid buying an iPhone, and how are they worse than anyone else?
You mean with the exception of Pay Per View, of course. The modern systems offer the movie in HD format and allow for pausing, rewinding, etc. Not to mention that it beats BitTorrent in terms of instant delivery. Of course, there is the caveat where you have to pay the creators/distributors for the right to watch it, thus enabling them to pursue movie-making as a livelihood, with the potential outcome of even more movies from them that you may want to see.
Left out a " "? I think the issue here is that the Slashdot publishing system isn't showing the markup correctly, since your own post fails to show it, too. Even if you use the html syntax, it fails to show up. Probably a font problem.
I don't have a problem with Apple requiring their hardware in order to run their software (there are so many other competing companies who don't, so there's no lock-in), or their software to run their iPads, iPhones, etc. (again, this describes any company who produces hardware that interfaces with another system; they're called drivers). Any computer you buy is loaded with software put on there by the vendor, so again, not an issue; at least the stuff Apple gives you has a good reputation and isn't crippleware contingent upon paying for an upgrade. My only real complaint is the continued bad relationship of Apple with third-party video card manufacturers, who sell identical hardware to Apple and Windows customers but charge *three times as much* for the former. Now that's abuse.
According to the FTA, you won't get hired at Google, IBM, et al., if you currently work at Apple. The reverse is true. This may be illegal, but the companies' motivation is obviously something akin to a gentlemen's agreement not to poach from each other. It's ugly, but it's also still not the same as saying that working at Apple prevents you from quitting and then applying for a job somewhere else.
If this is a customer-oriented tool, then I'd say rewrite version 2 in a more future-proof, platform-agnostic language. These are customers, and keeping an edge over the competition means offering something more than the other guy. Working in a situation where we're dependent on a single-source vendor who regularly ignores us even for their contractually obligated responsibilities, we're chomping at the bit for the first opportunity to jump ship and find someone else as soon as our contract expires. Give the customer what they pay for plus a little extra and you'll be rewarded.
Not to mention that breaking the lock-in to one platform means expanding your potential customer base (unless the only customers you get are locked into Windows as well for industrial reasons).
Wait, the original word is "shit"? I thought they were just omitting "crap". Or "stuff". What on earth is wrong with these Parents Television Council people? Dirty, dirty minds!
The post, and the links, fail to explain what PLATO is. If I have to go do research to figure out what exactly the subject matter is, then the article isn't ready to publish. Just to be a good sport, I'll actually post the pertinent Wikipedia link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO_(computer_system)
When you steal something, you deprive the seller of their profit and their livelihood. Your economic interest is in that you want something for nothing. Best of all, this is without changing our language at all; this is just removing the weasel words people use to try to justify that since something's easy to steal, they're justified in stealing it.
Slashdot Mirror
It's not about instant gratification, it's about quality of life. Where is it written that the crush of crowds during rush hour is noble? Why is it better to waste time waiting in line at a bus station, only to stand packed in like sardines for a 30-minute ride next to hot, sweaty strangers, than to have those same large groups of people move quickly and stress-free to their respective destinations? Why would I want to endure the agony of the LA freeway (or any road in Japan, for that matter), where it may take anywhere from 20 to 120 minutes to cover the same distance that a car in the countryside could cover in 10?
This isn't about speed, it's about getting things to move along more smoothly. Wasting two hours a day or more of my life sitting around waiting to get somewhere is not a good use of anyone's time. Ironically, the current method gives you plenty of time to smell things - exhaust, sweat, pollution - but it could hardly be viewed as philosophically superior, don't you think?
It's a sign of our times that people spend a lot of effort finding ways to "kill time" on their commutes. People mover solutions are all about making time, which is a good thing.
Sorry to disappoint you, I'm an Apple fanboy, and I certainly hope that they fix this in a software update ASAP.
What are the mods doing recently? Seems like "troll" and "flamebait" are being confused with "insightful".
Regardless of the interface, the GIMP's most serious problems lie under the hood. It lacks the speed, processing power and features of Photoshop (despite Adobe's best efforts). It lacks professional-quality color management, and it can't handle the color spaces and bit depths necessary to be competitive (newspapers especially are going to feel the hurt when they are forced to use software that doesn't have native support for CMYK). Finally, it has the worst product name of any piece of software ever; it's not even your standard unpronounceable or esoteric; it's downright offensive.
Too bad there isn't a mod for "insightful troll". There is no real parallel to be drawn between Apple's response and BP's response (unless you want to do a pass/fail "they responded", and you're willing to equate "epic international disaster" with "people complain because they can't get a signal"). Also, I'm guessing you don't actually buy Apple products. I personally am up for a new iPhone, so will take the upgrade because an iPhone 4 beats the heck out of a 3G version, and the signal strength is also a major improvement over the old model. Of course, living in Japan, with its comprehensive tower coverage, and typically using the hands-free method for talking, anyway, I seriously doubt I'll notice the difference.
Why is this news? Verizon made good. Not that I'm a fan, but why are we harassing them when they fixed the problem and apologized?
Granted, it should never have had to become a public issue, of course.
Chase thinks people inherently choose cars that are bloated, slow and insecure?
I noticed that you equated Chrome to new and fast, but not to security. I think that might be the problem.
I will say, though, that living with dual strabismus (no depth perception, lazy eye, and I can consciously suppress the input of one eye or the other) is no picnic. I didn't think the 3D movie thing was that great to start with.
I can see where the problem could arise. Stereo vision occurs in the brain, not the eyes; as others have said, you can potentially get lazy when your eyes are of two different powers and lose the ability. In my case, I can't re-learn something I never learned how to do properly in the first place.
To be fair, the doctor told me that stereo vision is learned before the age of five, which is how I slipped through the cracks. However, since children's brains stay fairly flexible up until the age of 12, I wouldn't doubt that it's something that can be unlearned again. Screw that. There isn't anything 3D brings to the table that isn't a gimmick. If my kids want to experience 3D, they can go outside and play in the real world.
Can you name any other cell phones previous to the iPhone that let you buy applications for them? Were they open? Could you buy them from just anywhere? In Japan, for example, cell phone applications were available for sale in 2002, when I first got here. They usually cost the equivalent of $3 USD per copy, and better still, often charged you a monthly fee to keep using them. Needless to say, the applications were only available from the cell phone provider's network. There was no backup of the software, either; if your phone was damaged or lost, you were screwed. Software was also available on a model-by-model basis, and if your model was more than a year old, was likely not available at all. They later introduced "PC Web" browsing, which allowed you to see actual web pages on a screen half the size of the iPhone screen. Each use of the browser cost $3, with additional charges assessed based on data transfer amounts. You could, of course, buy their unlimited data plan, which would tack an additional $50 onto your cell phone bill (usually on top of $50 base charges, which didn't include any kind of "free minute" allowance). Transferring personal files, such as addresses, photos, music, or movies to the cell phones was excruciating at best, if not impossible. You had to buy third-party software that gave you only minimal access to files, and usually only for download, not upload. The only things I miss from my Japanese cell phone are the QR code reader and the IR data transfer. Oh, and the battery life, of course. You can hate on Apple for blocking stuff like Google Voice, but keep in mind that such things may not be completely frivolous, or even completely within Apple's control. Apple currently doesn't allow any VoIP application that runs over 3G, and that's because their cell phone network partners won't allow it, as it would potentially supersede their service and eat into their profits. Skype has just now started offering their service over 3G, but they are also going to start charging for it by the end of the summer. One can assume that they've worked out a profit-sharing deal with the providers to appease their fears. What has Apple done specifically that has been detrimental to you? Are you a developer who had your application rejected out of hand, after you spent six months sweating over the code? Is everyone who disagrees with your opinion over Apple automatically a fanboy, just because they don't hate them as much as you do?
Actually, if you've ever played Monopoly and gotten to the point where someone else owns Park Place, Boardwalk, and all the railroads, you're pretty much screwed, which sounds *exactly* like real life. You could also equivocate losing with "wrecking the game", since the game reaches a certain point where it cannot continue (and there's only one winner). Also, it doesn't take much to destroy the "smart play and careful management" approach, either, since your piece moves at the whim of the dice. I do agree, though, that at least with Monopoly, you can start the game over again from the beginning.
Actually, most companies like dealing with the government just fine, because they combine just the right balance of gullibility and deep pockets. I remember when a university-affiliated production studio I worked at spent $42,000 on a RealMedia distance-learning system from Dell that involved about $10,000 in equipment, but they had to pay that price because we were locked into a contract with them.
Congratulations, they've officially created a health warning that will be more useless than the surgeon general's warning on cigarettes.
While the humor is appreciated, GraphicConverter for the Mac (http://www.graphicconverter.net/) is amazing and does everything the poster wanted.
So it's possible to distinguish the pixels if you hold it close enough. There is no fixed distance to base a judgement on, however. Inches? Centimeters? Since most of the world is metric, 12 inches is no good, anyway.
They *could* have just turned on password protection for their wireless network. It's incredible how efficient that is.
Point 2 no longer applies (RTFAs that have been floating around the net for over two months now), as the newest iPhone OS supports multitasking. It also now supports services in the background with a notification system. The number of people who actually want to replace their keyboard and home screen number in the dozens, so I don't think that it's really a valid concern for 99.99% of customers out there. Finally, exactly what other OSes besides Android can you/have you installed on your Nexus One? As for the other points: the iPhone offers tethering, but it requires the carrier to cooperate. Not Apple's fault. Point 4 is mostly a developer concern, as it would take a prohibitive amount of time for even the ambitious user to exhaust the repository of applications already available. Most commercial systems out there require investment in an IDE, so putting this at Apple's feet is disingenuous. Google just underwrites their costs by data-mining your searches and selling ads through their service, so the cost is still there. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Apple's closed marketplace may be distasteful, but you have to hand it to them: they don't have any viruses on a system with always-on access to a cell phone network. I'm just waiting for the day that Android gets nailed with that one.
I find that the cell phone companies' policies by default still eclipse anything Apple has tried to do to me lately. If you're in the States, buying anything that requires AT&T's service coverage seems rather futile, anyway (and considering the inadequate coverage that even the best providers offer, I'm happy to stay in Japan for now). Exactly what draconian policy do they have that makes you want to avoid buying an iPhone, and how are they worse than anyone else?
You mean with the exception of Pay Per View, of course. The modern systems offer the movie in HD format and allow for pausing, rewinding, etc. Not to mention that it beats BitTorrent in terms of instant delivery. Of course, there is the caveat where you have to pay the creators/distributors for the right to watch it, thus enabling them to pursue movie-making as a livelihood, with the potential outcome of even more movies from them that you may want to see.
Left out a " "? I think the issue here is that the Slashdot publishing system isn't showing the markup correctly, since your own post fails to show it, too. Even if you use the html syntax, it fails to show up. Probably a font problem.
I don't have a problem with Apple requiring their hardware in order to run their software (there are so many other competing companies who don't, so there's no lock-in), or their software to run their iPads, iPhones, etc. (again, this describes any company who produces hardware that interfaces with another system; they're called drivers). Any computer you buy is loaded with software put on there by the vendor, so again, not an issue; at least the stuff Apple gives you has a good reputation and isn't crippleware contingent upon paying for an upgrade. My only real complaint is the continued bad relationship of Apple with third-party video card manufacturers, who sell identical hardware to Apple and Windows customers but charge *three times as much* for the former. Now that's abuse.
According to the FTA, you won't get hired at Google, IBM, et al., if you currently work at Apple. The reverse is true. This may be illegal, but the companies' motivation is obviously something akin to a gentlemen's agreement not to poach from each other. It's ugly, but it's also still not the same as saying that working at Apple prevents you from quitting and then applying for a job somewhere else.
If this is a customer-oriented tool, then I'd say rewrite version 2 in a more future-proof, platform-agnostic language. These are customers, and keeping an edge over the competition means offering something more than the other guy. Working in a situation where we're dependent on a single-source vendor who regularly ignores us even for their contractually obligated responsibilities, we're chomping at the bit for the first opportunity to jump ship and find someone else as soon as our contract expires. Give the customer what they pay for plus a little extra and you'll be rewarded.
Not to mention that breaking the lock-in to one platform means expanding your potential customer base (unless the only customers you get are locked into Windows as well for industrial reasons).
Wait, the original word is "shit"? I thought they were just omitting "crap". Or "stuff". What on earth is wrong with these Parents Television Council people? Dirty, dirty minds!
The post, and the links, fail to explain what PLATO is. If I have to go do research to figure out what exactly the subject matter is, then the article isn't ready to publish. Just to be a good sport, I'll actually post the pertinent Wikipedia link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO_(computer_system)
Your welcome.
Yeah, this entire story is kind of supporting Steve Jobs' obsessive control of the closed App Store. My iPhone has no viruses.
It does have Plants vs. Zombies, though.
When you steal something, you deprive the seller of their profit and their livelihood. Your economic interest is in that you want something for nothing. Best of all, this is without changing our language at all; this is just removing the weasel words people use to try to justify that since something's easy to steal, they're justified in stealing it.