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Comment Re:choice doesn't *require* bad defaults (Score 3, Insightful) 361

by mattytee (#45146231) Attached to: Is Choice a Problem For Android?

You realize what you are saying is equivalent to saying a new windows app needs to be test on every version of windows, and on every machine combination, right?

As the main build guy at a small software company, I can attest that this is necessary.

We run automated testing on XP, Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8. As far as "every machine combination," yes and no. If your software is built for 32 and 64 bit systems, you need to test XP32, XP64, Vista32, Vista64, Win7-32, Win7-64, etc.

We also run on Linux and test on every distribution we support. Here, it's mainly glibc differences that cause the breaks. We build to the lowest common denominator, and you'd be surprised how often something works fine on RHEL4 but is broken on RHEL6 due to library differences.

We have seen lots of issues from the same code that are only reproducible on one version of Windows or one version of Linux.

If you're doing it seriously, test seriously or your product will suffer.

Submission + - HALE Dreamer: The Difference Between Android and Apple Accessories (kickstarter.com)

Submitted by JoeBorn
JoeBorn writes: One of the little discussed factors in the Apple v Android debate is the accessory ecosystem. Apple has fostered a robust ecosystem with a set of standards, a "MFi" verification program and reference designs. The Android ecosystem has little of that, but also none of the restrictions that go with it, this puts more work on the startups that want to get into the Android accessory space, but also gives them more freedom to innovate. HALE devices has created an alarm dock that includes an integrated Do Not Disturb feature, based on their own set of standards. Is this an area that hurts or helps Android?
Piracy

Submission + - RIAA: Google Failing to Demote Pirate Websites (slashdot.org)

Submitted by
Nerval's Lobster
Nerval's Lobster writes: "The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) claims that Google has failed in its attempt to lower the search-results rankings of so-called “pirate” Websites. “We have found no evidence that Google’s policy has had a demonstrable impact on demoting sites with large amounts of piracy,” read the report’s summary (PDF). “These sites consistently appear at the top of Google’s search results for popular songs or artists.” Last August, Google indicated that it would start lowering the search-result rankings of Websites with high numbers of “valid” copyright removal notices. “This ranking change should help users find legitimate, quality sources of content more easily—whether it’s a song previewed on NPR’s music website, a TV show on Hulu or new music streamed on Spotify,” Amit Singhal, Google’s senior vice president of Engineering, wrote in a corporate blog posting at the time. Google, which receives millions of copyright removal notices every month, also offers a counter-notice tool for those who believe their Websites have been unfairly targeted for copyright violations."
Cellphones

Submission + - White House Petition To Make Unlocking Phones Legal Passes 100,000 Signatures

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: A White House petition to make unlocking cell phones legal again has passed the 100,000 signature mark. Passing the milestone means the US government has to issue an official response. On January 26th, unlocking a cell phone that is under contract became illegal in the U.S. Just before that went into effect, a petition was started at whitehouse.gov to have the Librarian of Congress revisit that decision. "It reduces consumer choice, and decreases the resale value of devices that consumers have paid for in full. The Librarian noted that carriers are offering more unlocked phones at present, but the great majority of phones sold are still locked."

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