Recent Posts

601

Living Room / Re: Unable to compete with the Kindle, Apple wants a cut of ebook sales

« Last post by zridling on February 04, 2011, 03:44 AM »

That would make it great for hauling around something like the Microsoft Inside-Out series of books - or a complete copy of the LDP archive.

-40hz (February 03, 2011, 06:41 PM)

That is the great advantage of an ereader: series. One example: the six volumes of Proust's In Search of Lost Time. Or imagine carrying around Joyce's Ulysses with another book or two full of annotations for it. Very handy. But I still need to be able to markup, take notes, and export those notes in text format sooner, not later.

602

Living Room / Re: Wow!! Are Any of You THIS limber?

« Last post by zridling on February 04, 2011, 03:41 AM »

And for lovers of guitar, check out these kids' performance!

-kyrathaba (February 03, 2011, 06:39 PM)

Whoa. Here's a kid that grew up really fast lately, Sungha Jung:

His main page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/jwcfree#g/u

603

Living Room / Re: Let's face it: the ebook market is FUBAR, thanks to pure greed

« Last post by zridling on February 04, 2011, 03:24 AM »

You might enjoy this film: (The Corporation.)

-Renegade (February 04, 2011, 02:33 AM)

Actually I did watch this film on Youtube years ago and I was shocked. When I did mention to friends or family, I was treated as a kook. But right there, you have CEOs and everyone else describing in great detail how they gamed the system, rigged prices, ripped off and injured people -- purposefully -- without consequence. My forehead was sore for a month from banging it against the desk so hard.

604

Living Room / Re: Let's face it: the ebook market is FUBAR, thanks to pure greed

« Last post by zridling on February 04, 2011, 03:21 AM »

No, Nudone, you're not off-target because the analogy fits the topic: unmitigated GREED. I don't mind paying my water bill, but if tomorrow my city announced that water run to your house per cubic liter will now cost the same as bottled water, I'd rise up. In the US, we're used to getting pegged by drug companies. We even have a president who campaigned for cheaper drug importation, and then suddenly dropped the issue in his healthcare plan. Funny how things like that are dropped without a fight, as if to say, "Never mind. We're not talking about that anymore." I figure you could look toward every part of the economy and see something systemically broken.

605

Living Room / Let's face it: the ebook market is FUBAR, thanks to pure greed

« Last post by zridling on February 04, 2011, 02:07 AM »

No matter their few compatibilities here and there, Apple, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble have quickly succeeded in making the ebook market horked beyond recognition with their proprietary formats and [proprietary] hardware. This device can't download that format, that one can't read it even if you do manage to download it, the fonts are skewed on your smartphone, and everywhere everyone's out to drive book prices through the roof. With no delivery costs, built-in DRM (no sharing boys & girls!), there's NO WAY an ebook should cost as much as a physical book in your hand. I at least give Amazon credit for the ability to share books (if only for 14 days). As an experiment, I bought a new hardcover book and it arrived with cheap, newspaper-quality recyclable paper that will fade soon and if you make a note in the margin, the ink bleeds through. The same ebook format only cost $2 less than the $36 hardcover!

Point is, right now is a terrible time to be buying ebooks. Each is trying to make their format dominant, or at the least they are ensuring that the customer can only reliably buy books using their exclusive device from their stores. And if you're looking for books in the public domain, those lists are well-hidden, and finding the books themselves in readable formats is equally difficult. Most publishers don't seem to believe that books actually existed before 1850 (or after 1920). Before you fall asleep, yes, I know this has been argued to death here and throughout the web. But fighting the same fight every year gets old just because a few multi-billionaires need to push the stock price a few more points every quarter. Customers feel like suckers, and it's hard to enjoy your [entertainment] purchase if you know you're getting ripped off. It's the same feeling of eating cold fries -- have you noticed what fries cost! I get the feeling that if any one of these corporations could create their own internet and seal it off from outsiders, they would in a minute if they had enough suckers, yea Apple, I'm talking to you.

Signed,
Tired of being ripped off, picking up the pitchfork
(PS: Sorry for the numerous rants lately, but these proprietary/copyright/trademark/patent things really drive me crazy.)

606

Living Room / Re: Google's overweening conceit (anti-Eric Schmidt rant)

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 05:00 PM »

Anyone see the Disney/Pixar film Wall*E? That's basically what he's describing as the future of humanity....

-Deozaan (February 02, 2011, 03:41 PM)

Wow. A light just went on in my head. Thanks, Deozaan!

607

Living Room / Re: Unable to compete with the Kindle, Apple wants a cut of ebook sales

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 04:57 PM »

Dell should run with this idea, and require 30% of everything purchased on one of their computers.

It's all about the ability to market their products in a way that makes people feel really good about choosing an essentially closed system that doesn't work well with other devices and software. And when people attempt to make the Apple product they own more compatible and useful, i.e., jailbreaking, Apple claims a copyright violation. From now on, I'll copy what was said against being forced to buy Microsoft Windows with a new computer and call it the Apple tax. Apple calls their 30% cut "curating," but what they're actually doing is hiding and controlling web content into monetized apps. No porn for you! Want NYTimes? $20/month on our device that delivers our iAd experience! I do understand the comfort of plug-n-play/idiot-proof computing offered by Apple.

608

Living Room / Re: Unable to compete with the Kindle, Apple wants a cut of ebook sales

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 08:42 AM »

The only effect of Apple's action will be to drive up all ebook prices. And right now, new ebooks almost the same price as hardcovers!

609

Living Room / Google's overweening conceit (anti-Eric Schmidt rant)

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 08:37 AM »

Alan Mitchell on Google's Overweening Conceit. A must read for all those who believe in technology solutions. And let me just say: Eric Schmidt: who the hell does he think he is!
http://community.bra...weening-conceit.aspx



Excerpts:
“You are never lost. Now your smartphone knows your position. So do your friends.
 
“Your car. Your car should be able to drive itself. It knows where it is, it knows where the other cars are, it knows where you are going. The car should take you where you want to go.
 
“This explosion of real-time telemetry which is a fantastic explosion of information is the defining computer science data challenge.”

_________________________________
Hey Eric, I know where I am. Why does Google need to know where I am!

610

General Software Discussion / Re: LibreOffice UI Mockups (with sidebar)

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 08:25 AM »

Here's a short illustrated article on 3.3's few new features:
http://www.linuxjour...-brings-new-features

611

Living Room / Re: Unable to compete with the Kindle, Apple wants a cut of ebook sales

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 08:22 AM »

Unrelated to this money grab is the underlying fact that Kindle and Nook both run Linux (kernel). I don't think that's a factor, but now that Android/Linux quickly overtook Apple's iPhone marketshare, and now with a slew of alternate tablets out there, Apple's set for real competition in 2011. In the February issue of Linux Journal, Bill Childers tells you how to hack the NOOKcolor.

612

Living Room / Unable to compete with the Kindle, Apple wants a cut of ebook sales

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 08:10 AM »

http://www.wired.com...cut-of-e-book-sales/

Apple has responded to the furor over its supposed App Store policy changes that many believe could affect the popular Kindle, Nook and Sony Reader apps. The company claims it has not changed any of its guidelines given to developers, but it indirectly confirms that accessing content purchased elsewhere could be a no-no if that content isn’t also available to be purchased through Apple’s own system. Buzz began Tuesday morning when The New York Times said that Sony’s e-reader app had been rejected, citing Apple’s restriction on in-app book purchases. This in itself was not a new policy — Apple doesn’t allow apps to sell content to users unless that content passes through the official Apple ecosystem, where Apple gets a 30 percent cut. Apple also allegedly told Sony that the app couldn’t access content purchased on other Sony Reader devices, which is where most of the outrage was focused. Amazon’s Kindle app and Barnes & Noble’s Nook app are both popular mechanisms for users to download and read books that they have purchased from the respective stores. Many feared that this supposed change in Apple policy would take their e-books away from their iPads, iPhones and iPod touches.

______________________________________________
If Amazon and Sony don't understand they have the upper hand here, then they're idiots. Apple merely wants to have it all and control it all and make money off of every single point of their gadgets. Why anyone would want Apple's money-sucking devices are beyond me.

613

Living Room / Re: Cracking the Scratch Lottery Code

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 05:47 AM »

Not sure I agree with his morality. Given that lotteries prey on the hopes of those who most need the cash -- and who can least afford to part with what little they have -- Srivastava should have at least tried to make a million or two just to "confirm" his results.

614

Living Room / Re: Google sets up a sting against Bing

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 05:44 AM »

If Google's good enough for Microsoft, then it's good enough for me. Google's response should have been: "But wait, I thought we sucked! Never mind."

615

General Software Discussion / Re: sublime text: some innovative text editor!

« Last post by zridling on February 02, 2011, 02:00 AM »

I downloaded the Linux version and like the color schemes, simple scripting of user preferences, and animations. But beyond programming, I've no use for it. Yet I see the attraction throughout -- no clutter, unlimited customization, and simple, self-contained installation and deletion. For $59, it'll need more of its edges rounded.

616

Living Room / Re: I'm Confused

« Last post by zridling on January 31, 2011, 11:27 PM »

"Minority Report" beginnings! Now if they could just detect the murderer, the rapist, the gunman, or hey, how about the thief about to steal the car!

617

General Software Discussion / Re: Web images to get expiration date -- no, no, no!

« Last post by zridling on January 30, 2011, 06:13 PM »

Hehe~! When I was a teen, there were no digital cameras. It would be funny though to see pictures of people back then with bad haircuts, drunk and high as a kite~!

-Renegade (January 30, 2011, 03:36 PM)

Back in my day (love that phrase), we didn't do the stupid "jackass" stuff people do today. I have always told my students to take a picture of themselves and show it to their kids someday. The kids will LAUGH THEIR ARSES OFF at you, I promise. Same likely for the music you liked. They never believe me, but I've had many come back decades later and say, "You were right."

I'd hate to be a kid these days. There's no way you had the fun we did in the 60s and 70s. Yea, we had long sideburns and flare pants. But they were comfortable and showed off our high heels. ha! Oh well, I'm going there. What's funny is that most of these things -- and people -- are still around, and some still relevant.














Kwai Chang Caine changed my life (a little).







Indulgence over.

618

Living Room / Re: Egypt Blacks Out Internet!

« Last post by zridling on January 30, 2011, 05:00 PM »

The world needs an undernet because politicians and corporations will keep doing this crap as they squeeze the internet down to nothing but banal advertising chatter.

619

General Software Discussion / Web images to get expiration date -- no, no, no!

« Last post by zridling on January 30, 2011, 12:31 AM »

Help is at hand for anyone who has ever forgotten about embarrassing images they posted to a social network or website. German researchers have created software called X-Pire that gives images an expiration date by tagging them with an encrypted key. Once this date has passed the key stops the images being viewed and copied. Creators plan to levy a small charge to use the tagging system and put a digital lock on digital pictures.

http://www.bbc.co.uk.../technology-12215921
__________________________________________________________
(But my screenshot of the image will last forever!)

620

Living Room / Re: Microsoft Formats Causing Issues Again...

« Last post by zridling on January 28, 2011, 09:58 AM »

If people don't want a computer with Windows on it, they can buy a Mac. Nobody is stopping them. I'm also unaware of any legal requirements or human rights that dictate what manufacturers must manufacture and what retailers must sell. If there were some actual, real principles at work here, they'd be suing Apple as well for the same thing. They're not. What does that say? It's a "let's pick on MS" party.

-Renegade (January 27, 2011, 11:07 PM)

I think you're confusing the seller with the license the consumer gets stuck with. No one objects to an Xbox with Microsoft software on it, because it's sold as a unitary system, as is Apple. If Apple made computers where you could put just any OS and software on them, that would be different. I'd be arguing the same if in every retail store, every time you bought a computer, it was stuffed with the most popular Linux distro -- even when it's free! You may like that Linux distro, but I don't, and I don't want it. (Microsoft likely sells each OEM copy to large manufacturers for roughly $40, which, while negligible, is guaranteed profit. But the downside is, that drivers remain proprietary, too, and are written and locked away for Windows compatibility out of convenience.)

Dunno... Freedom and all is great, but you don't get freedom by stripping it from others.

-Renegade (January 27, 2011, 11:07 PM)

Forcing me to buy something I neither want nor need isn't freedom, it's a form of monopolistic competition. In other words, for the consumer, there is neither free entry nor free exit. Either way, I'm getting my wallet cleaned against my will by one company: Microsoft. No other.

621

Living Room / IBM centennial: 100 years of milestones [video]

« Last post by zridling on January 28, 2011, 09:39 AM »

[via ITWorld]: http://www.itworld.c...ars-milestones-video


Did you know that this year is the 100th anniversary of IBM? Yeah, it slipped my mind too. Fortunately, the company reminds us that in 1911, International Business Machines was created. To help celebrate its 100 years, they've produced a very unique and innovative ideo (see below), which highlights the company's history. They got 100 people who were born in each year of IBM's history, and get them to narrate the highlights. For example, the first guy is 100 years old, and he talks about what happened in 1911. Then a 99-year-old person talks about 1912, etc., etc. It's so fascinating that you'll want to sit through the entire 13 minute video to watch as the narrators get younger and younger. Oh, and you might learn something about IBM in the process. This is Web video at its finest.

If you like the anniversary stuff, check out the Network World's 25 Geekiest 25th anniversaries for a list of things that are only one-fourth the age of IBM.

622

Living Room / Re: Microsoft Formats Causing Issues Again...

« Last post by zridling on January 27, 2011, 10:10 PM »

Here's the response to complaints by open source folks to the AIGMO:
"Government agencies in Australia should actively participate in open source communities and will be required to consider open source options equally when going to tender, under new policy announced Wednesday."
http://www.zdnetasia...-source-62206328.htm
_______________________
Problem with "if you don't want it, then don't buy it," is that in the US, I have no retail choice except to first buy unwanted [Microsoft] software with my computer. I either build my own or buy online. Most folks would rather just walk in the store and walk out with a new machine. But then if you trick me into licensing your product [Windows] that you've already forced me to buy by merely turning on the machine, that's outright fraud. If that's the case, then be honest enough to put it in 72pt type on the outside of the box in a warning label. Worse, you're forcing me to buy what consumers like myself consider to be an inferior and cumbersome product. It's a lose-lose for the consumer, but all win for Microsoft.

It's not a matter of picking on Microsoft, simply because Microsoft has never changed its ways unless forced to by the EU or other such enormously long and complex legal actions. At the very least, let Microsoft give me a refund for choosing not to use their software on the system I buy. That's not an unreasonable transaction by any measure.

623

General Software Discussion / Re: LibreOffice UI Mockups (with sidebar)

« Last post by zridling on January 27, 2011, 12:32 AM »

If this signals accelerated dev for the OOo code base (obviously now under the banner of LibreOffice) then I'm thrilled. I've always seen OOo as having tremendous potential but development seemed rather slow considering how much dev and corporate support their was behind the thing. So far LibreOffice seems to have made more improvements faster than OOo ever did, which is promising. - Oshyan

-JavaJones (January 26, 2011, 12:23 PM)

Exactly! And when you figure most communication is web/network-based rather than in ODF or MS-OOXML formats, there's only so much you can do anymore with a word processor -- especially in the age when few can spell or type more than 140 characters. I mean, who has the time to read 200 characters! v3.3 was for stability; v.3.4 should bring some much wanted new features.
 

624

Living Room / Re: Is pranking Josh unfair?

« Last post by zridling on January 27, 2011, 12:26 AM »

That is funny, though. Most tech issues are mere temporary pleasures (or pains) and tend to morph into even more temporary concerns. If you stripped my first 2,600 posts from here (out of 2,651), I wouldn't notice!

625

General Software Discussion / Re: LibreOffice UI Mockups (with sidebar)

« Last post by zridling on January 26, 2011, 07:47 AM »

v.3.3_Stable released yesterday morning and can be downloaded here.
http://arstechnica.c...e-of-libreoffice.ars

TDF got off to a good start and has attracted a lot of enthusiasm from former OOo contributors; Google, Red Hat, Canonical, and Novell are among its corporate supporters. The development effort so far has been reasonably productive. Contributors have been able to enhance LibreOffice with features that Sun had resisted accepting upstream, including parts of Novell's popular Go-OOo patch set. The LibreOffice developers have also incorporated significant improvements taken from the OpenOffice.org 3.3. The new features included in LibreOffice 3.3 improve the office suite's feature set, usability, and interoperability with other formats. For example, it has improved support for importing documents from Lotus Word Pro and Microsoft Works. Another key new feature is the ability to import SVG content and edit SVG images in LibreOffice Draw. Navigation features in Writer have been improved, the thesaurus got an overhaul, and the dialogs for printing and managing title pages got major updates. LibreOffice Calc touts better Excel interoperability and faster Excel file importing. The maximum size of a Calc spreadsheet has increased to 1 million rows.

____________________________
Funny thing: In openSUSE, it automatically deletes OpenOffice when you install LibreOffice unless you check the option to keep OpenOffice. ha!!