Comment Re:Control Your Own Destiny (Score 1) 630
I find it equally if not more hilarious that people actually make stupid comments like this, and pathetic if they actually believe what they're saying.
Really? How can one not realize you have no control over them other than through your wallet? It is naive to think differently...
There is no good reason why people should not bring perceived problems to the attention of those in power. Your arrogance is sickening.
Of course there is a reason...those in power will only seek to maintain or maximize that power. Why should they care about you if you're already paying for something, you've already voted! If you don't like it, see my sentence above... vote by wallet or shut up.
Comment Control Your Own Destiny (Score 1) 630
Comment Re:Yes (Score 1) 326
Comment Re:blah (Score 1) 615
Comment Internet 3 (Score 1) 341
Comment Re:All music sans DRM (Score 1) 731
You don't - you don't "own" the original DRM music. If ownership was an issue you'd not have bought that music.
So the only music we can own is distributed on CD? Or is that not true either? What music can we own if not some of the "digital crap" being shoveled?
I thought this depended on the label?
About TWO YEARS AGO it did. So, no. As soon as the Earth did not shatter into a billion pieces when BMI sold DRM free music, the other studios followed pretty much instantly.
They did? So all label music is DRM free now? Hrm...so now it's the resellers/distributors putting DRM on tracks?
Comment Re:All music sans DRM (Score 1) 731
Only music users purchased some time ago that was under the old DRM scheme and they did not pay to upgrade.
Why should one have to pay to "upgrade" music they already own. In essence, they're trying to get us used to "renting" items and no longer "owning" them like we did before... I should be able to upgrade the track without a fee if I've already "bought" it.
All music sold on iTunes for some time now is DRM free.
I thought this depended on the label?
The engineers at Apple, when you talk to them at WWDC, are on a personal level very happy to give back to the community which Apple really heavily depends on. Apple at the heart of things is VERY much a bunch of really technical people, not marketers.
I've never been to WWDC. It's on my "todo list." It'd be great to talk to some of their developers but the cynic in me has to point out that most company workers "tow the line." On a similar note, I'm actually very impressed with Steve Jobs late night e-mail conversation with a gawker reporter. Although I might not agree with the censorship part, I am absolutely in awe that Steve would enter into such a conversation, and give such candid responses.
Comment Re:Actually, Apple generally very Open. (Score 1) 731
On the music front, it is important to remember they publish some of their music without DRM, but I believe they still have quite a lot of it that is not only tied to their service, but to their device ecosystem.
Please realize I'm not necessarily "bashing" the companies. They're doing what a lot of companies continue to do because we, "the market," let them... I will mention that I am personally pissed at Apple because their popularity is in large part due to the counterculture of "geeks" who pined for something different, yet useful, elegant and dare I say "easy."
Again, you bring up good points, but I still think both companies are seriously abusing the "FOSS" movement for the sake of marketing themselves as being "more open" when neither are truly open. Tricking users into thinking you're "better than the less open people" is tantamount to selling people "fresh air;" both are vaporous and in the end, quite useless, as we're all part of the same ecosystem.
Comment Re:This is a good thing (Score 1) 731
And Google, in some ways, constantly dances on the precipice.
Comment Re:Mental Masterbation (Score 1) 731
Open Hardware Making Tons of Money What about open software companies that are still doing well?
Also, please narrow your definition of 'everything.' We only want open specifications (and/or open code). I don't have to give you a "double-click executable."
Comment Re:Can't run Java on iPhone either... (Score 0, Troll) 731
Comment Mental Masterbation (Score 5, Interesting) 731
This in turn has caused people to complain loudly about "freedom!!!" I want my freedom? I ask, freedom from what? You're now encountering what Stallman et al have been talking about for ages! You're only free as far as a company's whims says you are... Ohh, now I'm supposed to feel sad for those that hooked their toolset to Adobe? or to Apple for that matter? Why not focus on developing truly standards compliant applications with Open tools and let the companies come to us for a change rather than us bowing to them for the next release? We are all masters of our own domains, now "buck up" and act like it.
Comment YAWN (Score 1) 430
Comment Stupidity (Score 2, Insightful) 133
The banks welcomed the ruling. Merrill spokesman Bill Halldin called it a "milestone in regaining control over the distribution of our proprietary research and preserving the value of our investment ideas for our clients."
Hrm... so if I were to publish my proprietary information online, our say, outside of my house, then people read it and used it before I could make money from it I can sue them for losses? Wow! what a novel idea banks!
I've got a better one, why don't you lock the content away behind a login and share it with it client until you believe it be of insufficient value, then release it? Brilliant!