And then there are those of us running AOSP ROMs like CyangoenMod who will likely have fixes on our phones in no time. Hopefully manufacturers see how well Open Source responds to issues like this and realize that what they are doing puts a lot of phones at risk by making the process so tedious for updates that they move from "releasing source code" to maintaining a Git/SVN server that regularly pulls in updates from their team as well as the Android trunk. I think TMobile is already moving towards this. Last step would be to actually allow users to compile and install the ROMs of their choosing without having to worry about gaining root access.

I think that'd be pretty sweet. Also, when Google TV goes Open Source that'll be cool to see integrated by way of some app or something.

Yea, but you don't HAVE to manage your files all the time. Many applications just work out of your home folder or some nested folder in there and Open dialogs work fine. Other web apps work just fine as well.

The advantage here is that you have the OPTION to manipulate the files. Too cumbersome to do with touch? Sit down and do it with your KM since in the end at least it has a full featured OS.

My Citibank credit cards offer this. I go online and I can get a temporary number and use that just fine.

That's great, but the issue here is how Best Buy is going about it. They aren't just providing a service. The image that was posed looked like it was made with the intent of ripping people off.

The customer you had clearly KNEW that he could install updates by himself. You think any parent buying the PS3 for their child for this holiday season is going to know these things? They are going to see signs like that and think, "Oh I should probably get it updated while I'm here anyway!".

Other than that, if someone wants to pay for free software to be installed, so be it. Just don't trick people into it. It should be clearly noted that the Firmware update is free itself. Or, if the customer asks how to install it themselves they should be provided the information.

Nope. No argument here.

I agree with you that I'm not seeing it either in public instances. I think that you're right that there is little chance of corruption in a case of government run fire depot.

In fact, I'd prefer my fire depot run by my county as well rather than privately.

I don't get it...

We're not talking about this specific case. I'm just saying that Private and Public fire depots would be equally able to run such a racket. In both cases you'd have a house burnt and someone extorted and then someone (hopefully) prosecuted and sued.

The case of what actually happened is akin to someone not paying their taxes (it was a fee in this case because it was not the homeowners county) for their public service and therefor not receiving their service.

Right, neither is necessarily better. It really needs to be looked at case by case and those specifically involved.

Yea, and in America they'd be charged with Arson and then sued for property damage.

Rackets like that are illegal regardless of private/social services. In other words, it's a totally different issue. You don't think it's possible for public service workers to do the same thing and ask for "extra money for faster service?" It's illegal and they know they'd be prosecuted.

I had to reach deep for it.

It wasn't supposed to be serious. I just don't see this as such a big deal when Transmission has a perfectly capable web interface that works on the iPhone and Android. Also, Apple sure doesn't want to piss off the RIAA.

Do you have numbers on illegal vs. legal torrents? I can't find any decent sources.

Using BT legitimately will have to wait until they are home to download their Linux ISO! Such injustice!

It's a shame that a few bad eggs ruin it for the rest of us...

http://hexxeh.net/?p=328117605 Sept 28th.

I would use a shell script, but I also have Windows computers to use. Is there a good ftp/sftp Windows command line tool that I can script?

I agree with you that for emulation a computer is by far the best method available. It's not a big deal having it on a particular console. I don't see wanting to use my PS3 OR Xbox 360 for emulation anyway... The only consoles I really care to emulate are classic consoles. My Wii does that just fine. Both with Virtual Console and from the Homebrew channel. On top of that, My EVO 4G even emulates everything up to PSX and supports bluetooth controllers as well. Why bother with Xbox 360 emulation when my phone does better?

But... as to why the 360 is better suited...

Reason 1:
Installing homebrew or an emulator on a 360 requires soldering a mod chip to the board. If I remember correctly, it wasn't nearly as simple of a mod chip as the WiiKey was on the Wii either.

Reason 2:
Xbox 360 uses a propritrey controller. PS3 uses Bluetooth.

Works well on my EVO. Very well actually.

A million times better than it works on the iPhone too!

Plus, Android browsers support HTML5 as well as Flash. There's really no downside.