Recent Comments:
Open source license ruled enforceable, hippies rejoice {Engadget}
Aug 18th 2008 4:14PM @Chris
I generally agree, except for two things:
1) Many times, EULAs not disclosed before buying the software.
2) EULAs are rarely an easy read. A large company like Microsoft, Apple, or Google has the money to pay lawyers to read over every word with a fine-tooth comb; after all, their software costs millions to produce. An end-user doesn't have the time and money to devote to reading over a EULA for a $10-100 piece of software, one which (if read as a contract) could take away much more in the long term.
Open source license agreements fix the first of these. The terms are disclosed on the internet for reading long before software is made available which use the licenses. A large company could make large or minor changes to each EULA it creates. Just because Company X normally does not say, "By agreeing to these terms, the end user also agrees to a monthly subscription charge of $100 starting one month from the date of purchase," that doesn't mean they couldn't do it later.
Some of the open-source license agreements are also easy to read. Many are very clear and concise (although the GPL is an obvious counter example).
There's no reason that companies could not adopt an open, standard end-use licensing policy. If the policy is standardized and scrutinized, it could be held under whatever legal mechanism (trademark? copyright?) is available to prevent someone or a company from using a modified form of the license.
Dell's Latitude-On instant OS detailed, screenshooted {Engadget}
Aug 15th 2008 8:04AM It's an excellent step in the right direction.
As they say in the video, 95% of business users boot their laptops for mail, calendars, contacts, internet, viewing mail attachments, and replying to mail. The system takes those features (all found in a Blackberry), and adds a big screen and keyboard. On top of that, it multiplies battery life by a factor of around 10 through its use of dedicated hardware.
By the way, where did you hear about 15-second boot time? In the video, they talked like it would be practically an always-on solution.
Now, if you want to play games, you'll need a full boot. That said, I doubt you'll see this system anytime soon in an XPS or Alienware configuration, so I'm not sure how well gaming will work on those machines anyway.
My hope for the future: take this same concept and add the capability to load extensions from the hard drive as they are necessary. For instance, if I wanted to play a Linux game, and it requires capabilities not originally loaded in the instant-on OS, those modules could be loaded at that point.
Windows 7 in-depth technical info to be divulged in October {Engadget}
Aug 15th 2008 7:07AM Even if Midori replaces the NT-based Windows, Microsoft is still going to slap a nice Windows logo on it. It would be marketing suicide to not exploit the brand power of Windows... remember, those who believe that computers and Windows are the same thing vastly outnumber those who know better.
Apple working on streaming your iTunes library to your iPhone? {Engadget}
Aug 8th 2008 8:12AM @ Hiko
1) There are differences between a government and a corporation, namely: you may choose to contract yourself with a corporation, but have no choice about obeying the government; and the constitution places restrictions on the government, not on the people or businesses.
2) Apple is not monitoring your device. You are freely giving them information about your purchases by the simple fact that you make them.
3) And as an extension to 2), Apple is not disabling applications based on monitoring your usage of them. They are disabling applications based on the author's abuse or negligence regarding the rules of the SDK.
4) It sucks... if Apple disables a paid application, they had better issue a refund or face class-action lawsuits.
New images point at Atom-based ASUS Eee PC 900A {Engadget}
Aug 3rd 2008 8:17AM Haha... ASUS found a way to get as many Engadget posts as the iPhone... just release a new Eee every day.
Method devised for pwning first-gen iPhones running 2.0 via Windows {Engadget}
Jul 20th 2008 7:42PM Agreed... same thing the other way around... but's it's kind of funny.
Apple fanboys tend to hate Microsoft because they have 95% of the OS market, and may even like Apple because of their hatred of Microsoft.
Microsoft fanboys tend to hate Apple because they have like 71% of the MP3 player market, and may even like Microsoft because of their hatred of Apple.
In the year 2058 when Mac OS XIV Pigeon dominates the OS market and Zune 603 Puke Green/Brown/Pink dominates the MP3 market, they'll all shut up.
Method devised for pwning first-gen iPhones running 2.0 via Windows {Engadget}
Jul 20th 2008 7:39PM Agreed... same thing the other way around... but's it's kind of funny.
Apple fanboys tend to hate Microsoft because they have 95% of the OS market, and may even like Apple because of their hatred of Microsoft.
Microsoft fanboys tend to hate Apple because they have like 71% of the MP3 player market, and may even like Microsoft because of their hatred of Apple.
In the year 2058 when Mac OS XIV Pigeon dominates the OS market and Zune 603 Puke Green/Brown/Pink dominates the MP3 market, they'll all shut up.
Xbox 360's overhauled Dashboard: the gallery {Engadget}
Jul 15th 2008 8:34AM More than just the UI, my concern is how much this update completely changes the 360 console.
Apple has to charge for adding non-advertised features to its systems through software updates, such as the 802.11n support to its MacBooks, and the new features that have been added over time to the iPod Touch. This is all because of their accounting practices as governed by the GAAP. Would Microsoft not get in the same trouble if they choose to give a large software update away for free?
Traditionally, Microsoft has been a software company, but with the Xbox products, they are much more like Apple and have become an end-to-end system company. I would imagine that they would be subject to many of the same restrictions as Apple.
Best Buy's $10 headset pairing service includes testing, finger pointing {Engadget}
Jul 14th 2008 9:03AM Does the legislation require wireless?
iPhone camping rule of thumb: don't wear a suit {Engadget}
Jul 9th 2008 8:26AM If that's a painted board, then that is one humongous woman approaching from the right in the first picture.
