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4751

Living Room / Re: Patents given away? Elon Musk blazing a different sort of trail.

« Last post by wraith808 on June 13, 2014, 10:09 PM »

It's simply stunning that the big car manufacturers haven't been able to do this. I really wonder what's wrong with them. They have serious problems, and I suspect that the problems are systemic. We see the exact same kinds of lack of innovation in other large companies/industries, e.g. telcos haven't managed to improve the quality of voice communications in a century. ::facepalm::

-Renegade (June 13, 2014, 09:53 PM)

The answer is very simple.

Elon Musk is Tony Stark.

4752

Living Room / Re: Patents given away? Elon Musk blazing a different sort of trail.

« Last post by wraith808 on June 13, 2014, 08:45 PM »

Aren't two > signs physics-speak for "thing on left much much bigger than thing on right"?

-ewemoa (June 13, 2014, 06:45 PM)

I thought so... but then I saw the ambiguity of it since >> is also a bit-shift.

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Living Room / Re: Interesting "stuff"

« Last post by wraith808 on June 13, 2014, 02:51 PM »

This is interesting.  Not in a generate discussion type of way (anything like that would probably end up in the basement), but interesting enough that I thought a wider audience might be interesting in seeing it.

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General Software Discussion / Re: Loss-Proof Text Editor

« Last post by wraith808 on June 13, 2014, 01:09 PM »

I use ResophNotes.

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Living Room / Re: Patents given away? Elon Musk blazing a different sort of trail.

« Last post by wraith808 on June 13, 2014, 12:51 PM »

No... I guess I confused it a bit with the two > signs. (d'oh!  It's not a bit shift)

Engineers are greater than the patents on the innovations they create... and innovations are greater than the lawsuits to maintain what you already have.

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Living Room / Re: Patents given away? Elon Musk blazing a different sort of trail.

« Last post by wraith808 on June 13, 2014, 12:12 PM »

Well, he's also not stupid.  It's decidedly *not* open source.  He just said that those with the right intent- he won't go after.  Leaving the door open so that if someone has the wrong intent... well, he *will* go after them.

He sees the lay of the land... he's not competing with other electric car manufacturers.  He's competing with an entrenched enemy in the gas stations and the traditional car makers and the perceptions of what an electric car is.  He wants them to stop being seen as 'electric cars' and just be seen as 'cars'.  And he's going to get a lot of friction from a lot of different directions.  So... co-opt part of the perceived competition and turn them into allies against those who in the end probably never will be allies.  Get popular opinion on your side, and change the battleground.

Some serious Musashi going on here.  He's playing a totally different game, and I'm loving it!

This patent move is a beautiful thing, that speaks back to the days when innovation made this country great. Now if we can just spice up the occasion by getting a few (dozen...) patent trolls to jump out of high-rise windows...we can go ahead and make this a national holiday.

-Stoic Joker (June 13, 2014, 11:52 AM)

Engineers >> Patents
Innovation >> Lawsuits

I don't see why people don't see that the mind is the true treasure, and that the mind that conceived the idea is infinitely more valuable than any given idea.  And more minds looking at a problem produces better results in the end.

*sigh*

4757

Living Room / Re: Patents given away? Elon Musk blazing a different sort of trail.

« Last post by wraith808 on June 13, 2014, 10:10 AM »

Interesting analysis of Tesla's move on Harvard Business Review.

The first thing to note is that Tesla is not truly giving away its secret sauce, the source of its competitive advantage. “There’s a lot of thinking in the research these days on the gap between the codified knowledge that is patentable and gets disclosed versus tacit knowledge that really exists in how you actually produce,” says Orly Lobel, a law professor at the University of San Diego specializing in intellectual property. “That gap is probably relevant in this market.”

A Tesla vehicle is quite literally more valuable than the sum of the parts, even when the value of the patented technology is included. “They have this sexy car that people are increasingly liking,” says Lobel. “It’s something different from just the aggregation of the knowledge in the patents.”

That thinking is echoed by Alberto Galasso, another IP expert at the University of Toronto, who put it this way: “A patent on a great technology is worth nothing if there is no threat of imitation.” Access to the patents doesn’t ensure that a competitor can execute on an equally innovative product.

Tesla is trying to thread the needle of expanding the industry without giving up its competitive position. By giving away access to its patents it is offering competitors a leg up, but not fully ceding its lead in innovation.

“Tesla is very much the dominant innovator in the industry, so it can afford making that move,” Lobel told me, adding that the company may hope that it will trigger reciprocal action by others equally committed to furthering the industry.

More at link.

4758

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by wraith808 on June 12, 2014, 04:59 PM »

Nice to know there *is* actually a word for my usual stance...

4759

General Software Discussion / Re: TrueCrypt alternative

« Last post by wraith808 on June 12, 2014, 03:42 PM »

I guess I take issue that the article portrays this as an 'open source' problem. It's not. The problem of determining whether or not you can trust the team behind a software project/product is largely independent of whether the software is open source or not.

I think that implying that this is a problem particular to open source software or even just that it's more of a problem for open source software is wrong.

-mwb1100 (June 12, 2014, 03:05 PM)

The problem that is endemic to OSS in this regard (and I know I'm guilty of it) is the transparency of whom is behind the project.  I didn't even know, nor take the time to find out who was behind TrueCrypt.  Nor many of the other OSS that I use.  And I'm pretty on top of things... but having the source available makes a lot of that... just seem not to matter.

But it does.

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Living Room / Patents given away? Elon Musk blazing a different sort of trail.

« Last post by wraith808 on June 12, 2014, 02:34 PM »

Tesla Just Gave All Its Patents Away to Competitors

While not as sensational as the title implies, he did just give the right to use patents used in building the Tesla to anyone who wants to use them.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced today that his company will not “initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.” In plain English, that means that if other car companies want to produce electric cars, they can use Tesla’s technology to do it, and, in turn, advance Musk’s sustainability vision.

“The mission of the company is to accelerate the widespread adoption of electric cars,” explained Tesla spokesperson Simon Sproule in an interview before the patent announcement was made. “If Tesla acts as the catalyst for other manufacturers … that will have been achieved.”

More at link... and announcement here.

Now that's some forward thinking for you.

4761

General Software Discussion / Re: TrueCrypt alternative

« Last post by wraith808 on June 12, 2014, 02:28 PM »

If you have the name of Microsoft, or Google, or whomever behind a project, then you at least have knowledge of the history of whom is making it and some knowledge of what they have done/are doing- for good or ill.  On many OSS projects, there isn't this level of transparency.  It's not about abandoning or choosing to discontinue a project.  It's about knowing who is behind the project.  If you buy from someone, there is some level of transparency on this.  On quite a few OSS projects, there isn't.  It is the same concern to a smaller degree on smaller freeware projects... but those don't give the artificial level of reassurance that knowing a project is OSS tends to.

4762

General Software Discussion / Re: TrueCrypt alternative

« Last post by wraith808 on June 12, 2014, 01:24 PM »

I disagree with the tone of the article about the trustworthiness of free software. At least a couple times, the article says things such as:

I think we’ve all received a wakeup call. We might need to step back and question the source of our open-source software — and in the future, review its pedigree before installing it.

I don't think open source or free software should be called out for this, but not closed source software. This "wakeup call" applies to any software you depend on - whether it's free or paid, open or closed source. Paid-for, closed source software often gets abandoned or has support dropped suddenly - that's not a problem unique to free software.

At least with open source software, the possibility exists of someone/anyone forking the project and continuing to support it if there's a need or demand (keep in mind that as discussions have mentioned before, it's not entirely clear whether the TrueCrypt software is truly open source and possible to legally fork). That possibility doesn't exist for closed source software that gets abandoned.

-mwb1100 (June 12, 2014, 12:26 PM)

I think what was meant is that if you buy software from X, then you know that you've bought in from X, and that X is supporting it.  On many open source projects, this isn't the case.  The authors don't have to be known, and there is zero in the way of accountability.  So it wasn't so much that we don't need to assess with closed source projects- people already do that.  It's just leaning towards people *don't* do that with OSS in a lot of cases... after all, we can see the source, so it's not important.

But it is.

4763

Living Room / Re: WinXP is officially dead!

« Last post by wraith808 on June 11, 2014, 06:53 PM »

Nobody ever said to ignore the newer OSs in favor of the old, and not develop for them. That would be nuts! But if someone like mouser can develop software that works on old unsupported versions of Windows, as well as the latest, why can't others do the same?

-app103 (June 11, 2014, 03:40 PM)

Mouser does it for the love of it.  And he develops in C (++?).  Those two things get rid of many obstacles.  My software?  As long as I can develop one time with no problems... sure, I'll release it.  And also say that compatibility isn't guaranteed.  Too many headaches otherwise.

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Living Room / Re: WinXP is officially dead!

« Last post by wraith808 on June 11, 2014, 01:13 PM »

^ As usual, you said it much more elegantly than I.    +1

4765

Living Room / Re: WinXP is officially dead!

« Last post by wraith808 on June 11, 2014, 12:15 PM »

What I don't understand is 3rd party developers that make their money off supporting their apps running on whatever platforms their customers are using. If there are still a large chunk of people running XP, why turn them away from buying and using your software, by not supporting XP? Flushing all that cash down the toilet is kind of self-defeating, don't you think?

-app103 (June 11, 2014, 10:20 AM)

There are a lot of decisions that go into supporting platforms.  And apparently there is some data point (presumably based on money) that causes this kind of decision making.  Happens all the time in business.

4766

Finished Programs / Re: [SOLVED] Ctrl+Alt+Del

« Last post by wraith808 on June 10, 2014, 02:57 PM »

A couple of articles on this:

https://stackoverflo...laltdel-on-windows-7

https://stackoverflo...d-shutdown-for-kiosk

Don't know if any of those approaches work.. .it appears this isn't something to be approached lightly.

4767

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by wraith808 on June 10, 2014, 10:03 AM »

She said, "What a small organ."

He said, "I didn't realize I had to play in such a large cathedral."

4768

Living Room / Re: Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 07:29 PM »

I'm on the verge...

-wraith808 (June 09, 2014, 07:00 PM)

Of switching hosts?

A wise decision. I would.

-40hz (June 09, 2014, 07:12 PM)

Unfortunately, it's not my site.  *sigh*

I even offered to host them for free on my server if they'd just move... but when dealing with people that don't know about technology, they hate change, understandably.

"So here is us.  On the raggedy edge."

4769

General Software Discussion / Re: Nice blog post on the parasitic software hosting sites bundling junkware

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 07:27 PM »

^ Umm... that article is from 2011?

-wraith808 (June 09, 2014, 01:04 PM)

What? You mean....this isn't 2011 anymore?!

-bit (June 09, 2014, 07:15 PM)

Good comeback.  Really good comeback!

4770

Living Room / Re: Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 07:00 PM »

Most of my life's experience seems to tell me you can: get whatever you want - or - say whatever you want.

But not both.

At least not when dealing with the most people.

-40hz (June 09, 2014, 04:15 PM)

But when the better option isn't available, you can at least get it out of your system.

Godaddy is still telling the client that they don't support wordpress.  When I gave her clear instructions on what to say and she quoted verbatim that it had nothing to do with wordpress... it has to do with php.  

I'm on the verge...

4771

DC Gamer Club / Re: GOG announces DRM-Free game client: GOG Galaxy

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 06:58 PM »

Yes. They have clearly stated that the download via your web account will remain.

-mwb1100 (June 09, 2014, 04:34 PM)

They clearly stated a lot of other things... and they were true until they weren't. 

It sounds to me as though Galaxy will work a lot like the GOG Downloader but with social things optionally included.

-Deozaan (June 09, 2014, 06:13 PM)

See, that's where it gets sticky.  The downloader was useful and straight to the point.  I could go to my account and download a lot of things without actually having to do anything or be on the computer, and it would resume, and it *just* downloaded the files.

I need nor want anything else, including a portal for launch or anything like that.  And that's what *everyone* is trying to give me.

4772

DC Gamer Club / Re: GOG announces DRM-Free game client: GOG Galaxy

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 04:23 PM »

... another one?  This is past ridiculous.

-wraith808 (June 09, 2014, 09:12 AM)

The nice thing about GOG's client is that if you don't want to mess with it you don't have to.

Unlike most other gaming clients, you'll still be able to play the games you bought on GOG.

-mwb1100 (June 09, 2014, 02:48 PM)

Are we sure about that?  If that becomes their preferred way of downloading then will you have another choice?  And yes, I do understand that from the DRM standpoint- but that's the purpose of going there to begin with.

I'm just tired of all of the clients.  ARC.  Ubi.  Origin.  Gamestop (whatever that one is now). Direct2Drive/Gamefly (which also has DRM free stuff).  Green Man Gaming.  GamersGate.  Trion is making their own.  Raptr. etc, etc, etc.

I understand the concept behind wanting to make your own platform and make all of your products accessible from it.  I understand not having to use things.  But at what point is enough, enough?

4773

General Software Discussion / Re: Nice blog post on the parasitic software hosting sites bundling junkware

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 02:14 PM »

^ Umm... that article is from 2011?

-wraith808 (June 09, 2014, 01:04 PM)

Hey! That's my line!

-Deozaan (June 09, 2014, 01:52 PM)

You snooze, you lose!

4774

General Software Discussion / Re: Nice blog post on the parasitic software hosting sites bundling junkware

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 01:04 PM »

^ Umm... that article is from 2011?

4775

Living Room / Re: Stuff We Feel Like Bitching About

« Last post by wraith808 on June 09, 2014, 10:41 AM »

I dont know about you all, but if someone approaches me an angry/aggressive/abusive manner, I'm naturally going to take that as an attack, and get defensive or attack back. That's human nature (I think). Their job only allows one option there. I can completely relate to their position.

-tomos (June 09, 2014, 10:28 AM)

I think the truth (as with most things) lies somewhere in the middle.  I'm totally fine usually when I call.  I relate my position and problem in rational terms- it's just better for communication.  But when someone tries to jerk me around with a script, or not wanting to escalate if they can't take care of it, and not even wanting to admit the problem... well, sometimes a less reasoned approach is called for.

I'm close to that with GoDaddy right now, for an example.  On a client's wordpress (they chose to host with GoDaddy... sigh), the contact form doesn't work.  So I did some troubleshooting, and found out that mail() wasn't working.  I did some further troubleshooting to make it obvious that it wasn't anything with wordpress or anything- just their service.  Then I gave the client the information to relay (since they won't talk to me without the client giving me a lot more information than I'd even *want* them to give me).

Their response?  We don't offer support on Wordpress.

You really expect me to to stay calm with that kind of response?  When it's the fact that I can't access the mail() function because of your configuration?  And I see *several* posts on stackexchange about the same thing and the fact that GoDaddy in a lot of cases doesn't enable it unless you ask?