Recent Posts
This is a "how" begging for a "why".The downside of hacks like this will always be the hardware.
Today's "smart"phones and "tablets" almost exclusively look to ARM platforms which derive their significance from the world of embedded computing. The fact of the matter is that the natural setting for this hardware, and indeed where it flourishes, is vertical integration. With vertical systems:
* You're not SUPPOSED to be able to update your operating system or software when and how you want to.
* You're not SUPPOSED to be able to upgrade your operating system or software when and how you want to.
* You're not SUPPOSED to be able to install the operating system or software of your choosing when and how you want to.
It is intended to be a curated experience through the vendor, or the whole, delicate ecosystem breaks. The vendor has integrated your device as part of a larger ecosystem (and "ecosystem" doesn't refer to the stupid collection of crAPPS that you can download through a crAPP Store). It is setup this way for the convenience of your vendor, and in actual vertically integrated systems this makes a lot of sense. For example, I don't think anybody wins if some UPS courier decides to "hack" her digital signature tablet or handheld code scanner to put a different operating system of different software on it. Those devices are just a small part of the overall ecosystem of package tracking and delivery for the company, and the courier's devices are just one of many.
For some reason, people think that their “tablets" are personal computers because they’re theirs. That’s a nice application of grammar. They are “personal” computers. However, they are not “Personal Computers" because they’re built on hardware and with software and operating systems that REQUIRE vendor and operator intervention for them to achieve and maintain their perpetual usefulness.
In reality, hardware intended for vertical integrations is, has been, and always will be a pretty lousy fit for consumers. Whereas it makes a lot of sense for UPS to demand that devices are EOL'd and replaced on their command (cause you can’t work efficiently if you have to inter-operate and support multiple generations and species of devices), it's pretty dumb for vendors to be able to do that consumers, which is essentially what happens when the newest software won't be brought to your "outdated" hardware. So, a hack likes this will work as long as it works, and then it simply won't work anymore.
If it's really important for you to be able to run Ubuntu, you might want to either buy a supported device or pressure hardware vendors to open up their drivers. As is, this hack doesn't really solve any problems, it just makes it easier for the problems to persist without anybody really caring.
If NOBODY bought hardware that was ONLY supported by proprietary drivers then NOBODY would try to sell them. It’s hard to blame companies for wanting to install such leverage points against consumers when consumers are dumb enough to fall for it, and I’ve made a lot of money thanks to that exploitation of your stupidity. Still, I’d be a poor man living amongst the wise than a rich man living amongst idiots. I’m not sure if money can buy happiness, but it certainly doesn’t quell frustrations over absolute, reckless, uncaring ignorance.
You don't perchance own a Zune do you? I'd be curious about sound quality comparison -- that's one thing that's kept me loyal to the now discontinued Zune/Zune HD line. All other devices audio quality pales, so I'm a bit concerned about what comes next. Hopefully my 64gig ZHD holds out for a good long while...The Zunes are great also. I don't own one, but I've used them before, and I like them a lot. I would say the sound quality of this Clip Zip would compare very favorably with the Zune, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was better. I also have a couple of high end Sony players, and Sony's walkmans are known for their superb sound quality, and I don't notice any difference with the Sansa. I mean, I haven't A/B'd them or anything, but I haven't noticed much of a difference. AS a point of reference, when I listen to ipods, I can immediately notice a lack of sound quality vs. what I'm used to. Flatter sounds, exaggerated things here and there...I don't find them to be very gentle on my ears.-allen (October 12, 2011, 10:39 AM)
Sansa asks for feature requests...and then implements them in future firmware! Who else does that?!"Free" has become such a subjective term when discussing software that it's pretty much a null word. For all intents and purposes, "free" means little more than "free to download" about 95% of the time.So true. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if people stopped trying to define everything and just communicated without turning into a dictionary lesson. Maybe that's why I'm a musician at heart: I can say something that causes a feeling/emotion without actually having to SAY something. It's my magic, in a sense.
It's right up there with "green." Or "fair and balanced news." Or "organic." The list goes on...
This is the tactic of "identity dilution." Businesses have discovered one of the best ways to counter something they don't like is to co-opt its name or identifying descriptor to prevent it gaining a unique share of mindspace. Because the last thing these companies want is for a good idea that jeopardizes 'business as usual' to gain traction.
Chimpanzee brains. Gotta love 'em.-40hz (October 10, 2011, 06:25 AM)
Dang, this psychology is right on!Well if does what we're talking about then it does what we're talking about-mouser (October 08, 2011, 05:49 PM)
Windows users generally aren't comfortable using a chain of filters. Everything has to happen in one module. Some people won't even use a program if it uses more than one process or even a dll(that they notice. When pointed out that most every exe uses one or more Windows system dlls usually a disappointed silence follows.) Unix based systems have solved most of these issues a long time ago. But that's why clipboard is there. Have at it.
If it was me I'd investigate Windows versions of Linux/Unix stream editors and look for already debugged scripts.-MilesAhead (October 09, 2011, 01:41 PM)
Where's the middle finger smiley?? This will do, just change the finger in your mind...DAMN YOU STOIC!! All you did was make people jealous....sheesh, those numbers just destroyed me.-superboyac (October 07, 2011, 06:59 PM)
Sorry man, it was time to park the tricycle...
Actually the worse part is it $20mo cheaper than the DSL ... Now how's that for totally screwed up?-Stoic Joker (October 07, 2011, 07:10 PM)
Exactly!! Oh wow! A free download?? No way! Oh my gosh, I have to tell all my friends. You can download a FREE TRIAL for free, guys!! That's just crazy! You better jump on this before they realize how crazy they are? Who in their right mind would offer a free download of a free trial software? Life is good...So let me carefully point out the psychology behind it all, which nobody ever seems to mention. Instead, the debates circle around the definitions of the terms, and they completely avoid the heart of the matter.
The problem is this:
The developers pretend (i.e. play dumb) that what they meant by using the term "lifetime" in whatever context is limited to some sort of restrictions. ...-superboyac (October 07, 2011, 04:16 PM)
I think that is a very good observation -- it is more of a psychological trick than anything else.
Using the words "lifetime license" in this way is a lot like when commercial software companies advertise "free download". They use the word "free", not because there is any chance anybody would ever charge $5 for a download, but because they can con a percentage of people into downloading and installing their software, thinking it is free.-Jibz (October 08, 2011, 02:42 AM)
Yes! Fiber is better.DAM YOU STOIC!! All you did was make people jealous....sheesh, those numbers just destroyed me.-Stoic Joker (October 07, 2011, 06:06 PM)
The big print giveth and the small print taketh away.So true.-40hz (October 07, 2011, 04:53 PM)
When you buy Directory Opus you get a lifetime licence to use the current major version (e.g. 'Directory Opus 10'). All updates released for the same major version are yours for free and you can keep using them forever.
...
So, buying Opus gives you a lifetime licence and (typically) a lot of free updates over a long period of time, but it does not entitle you to free updates forever.
All updates released for the same major version are yours for free and you can keep using them foreverThey say it as if when the customer hears this, the customer will react like:
I got the exact opposite when reading it. I heard an arrogant, pompous (I'm behaving nowYeah, me too. I know these people, and they are not happy or joking about this at all. Quite a judgemental bunch and on top of that, individuals feel like they "own" certain things that they have absolutely zero ownership over. We'll see what happens. I predict that this is not the end of it.) blah blah blah. I didn't find it in the least bit funny.
It's interesting how we can get the exact opposite message from the same thing.-Renegade (October 07, 2011, 12:25 PM)
Hahhaahahahha, Renegade - you're so sick! Lovin' itOH man! That would be the ultimate response, though.-f0dder (October 07, 2011, 11:35 AM)
