MagnusVonMagnum
May 3, 04:38 PM
By 2020, mouse usage will be the minority.
I'm hoping by 2020 there's something out better than a trackpad, though.... I don't like them for long term usage (not comfortable, IMO). I'm thinking if Microsoft can do body tracking for XBox, it should be possible to do hand tracking for computers (e.g. put it on the webcam on a notebook. You could then do gestures and such in mid-air (e.g. touchscreen without getting fingerprints all over the screen. You could have templates for joysticks simulations, gun simulations, etc. Imagine just making a 'trigger' finger and playing a shooter game with no stick required.) I'd be thrilled if they could get voice interfaces and speech recognition/comprehension to work accurately so you could just talk to the computer for many things (ala Star Trek). Many things could be vastly improved over time.
I'm hoping by 2020 there's something out better than a trackpad, though.... I don't like them for long term usage (not comfortable, IMO). I'm thinking if Microsoft can do body tracking for XBox, it should be possible to do hand tracking for computers (e.g. put it on the webcam on a notebook. You could then do gestures and such in mid-air (e.g. touchscreen without getting fingerprints all over the screen. You could have templates for joysticks simulations, gun simulations, etc. Imagine just making a 'trigger' finger and playing a shooter game with no stick required.) I'd be thrilled if they could get voice interfaces and speech recognition/comprehension to work accurately so you could just talk to the computer for many things (ala Star Trek). Many things could be vastly improved over time.
dunk321
Mar 17, 01:38 AM
I just told a story and everybody is entitled to their personal opinion, what's done is done, I wasn't look for any congrats for this posting, but I Thank you all for the laughs
tvachon
Jan 9, 05:01 PM
Had, then i had to pause. grrrr
IJ Reilly
Oct 23, 10:27 AM
I would love for apple to use 10 billion to innovate fantastically, enter new markets, go green, and more. I don't think it's going to happen- the purpose of 10 billion in the bank for apple is having 10 billion in the bank. Apple's expertise is in taking big risks (at least large for a compnay of their size), a good number of which pay off very, very well. But people- investors, CEOs, are risk adverse, and a huge pile of cash to operate on, so big they can operate and continue to invest in risky and exciting products, mitigates their risks. For apple, a pile of money might actually be worth more than investing that money at a high rate of return.
Huge cash hordes are only good for three things, in order of desirability: reinvesting in future growth (which is why it's called capitalism); returning to the stockholders in the form of dividends; or holding for a rainy day. The last reason, which you seem to think is the best one, should be seen by investors as a signal that the company lacks confidence in the future.
Actually, there's a fourth use of excess cash: a stock buy-back. Apple isn't doing this with the money currently, either.
I agree, the huge stockpile of cash is an issue. That's money that should be working for Apple, and IMHO that should be in the form of purchasing other companies that will strengthen Apple in key areas, like music distribution and/or audio/video/graphics production.
And I also agree with you on the dividend issue. A small investment of that money into dividends may have the exact effect as you describe. On the other hand, putting that money into new products/enhancing existing products, may do more for Apple's long-term health vs. providing a dividend to improve the 'optics' of the company in shareholders' eyes.
New investments in technologies and products would be by far the best use of the money. With Apple's cash, they could set up a research arm similar to Xerox PARC or the old Bell Labs and place themselves in the forefront of new technology for a long time. Instead, they seem to be notably stingy with their R&D dollars. Purchasing technologies by buying out smaller companies could also be advantageous, and Apple does do some of this, but not much -- not enough to make even a dent in their cash hoard.
Huge cash hordes are only good for three things, in order of desirability: reinvesting in future growth (which is why it's called capitalism); returning to the stockholders in the form of dividends; or holding for a rainy day. The last reason, which you seem to think is the best one, should be seen by investors as a signal that the company lacks confidence in the future.
Actually, there's a fourth use of excess cash: a stock buy-back. Apple isn't doing this with the money currently, either.
I agree, the huge stockpile of cash is an issue. That's money that should be working for Apple, and IMHO that should be in the form of purchasing other companies that will strengthen Apple in key areas, like music distribution and/or audio/video/graphics production.
And I also agree with you on the dividend issue. A small investment of that money into dividends may have the exact effect as you describe. On the other hand, putting that money into new products/enhancing existing products, may do more for Apple's long-term health vs. providing a dividend to improve the 'optics' of the company in shareholders' eyes.
New investments in technologies and products would be by far the best use of the money. With Apple's cash, they could set up a research arm similar to Xerox PARC or the old Bell Labs and place themselves in the forefront of new technology for a long time. Instead, they seem to be notably stingy with their R&D dollars. Purchasing technologies by buying out smaller companies could also be advantageous, and Apple does do some of this, but not much -- not enough to make even a dent in their cash hoard.
MrSmith
Mar 28, 07:01 PM
Gasoline used to cost .25 a gallon. :rolleyes:
*Bang*
*Pain in foot*
*Bang*
*Pain in foot*
twoodcc
Apr 18, 11:07 AM
well of course i've been messing with my systems all weekend long, and of course i always run into some bad luck.
so i have 3 i7 920 systems. one is an asus and it's running bigadv and 2 x gpu. it's been my best reliable system so far. it's running well right now
my second system was just running 3 x gpu. i wasn't running bigadv b/c it had a heat problem. this is one i built. i decided to take everything apart and take off the cpu cooler it came with and i put on this huge one that i bought. it took an hour, but i got it! and it works great. the problem is that now it doesn't recognize all my ram. i had 6 GB, which is enough for running bigadv units in a VM in windows, and then run several gpu clients. but with only 4 GB of ram, this won't work. so i'm in the process of installing ubuntu right now on it. this will take away some of my gpus
and my third i7 rig is an alienware. it came with one GTX 260, and i decided to take one from my home built system and put in the this one. it's got 2 slots, but of course the second slot doesn't work. i called alienware, and they are supposed to come out and fix it. probably a new motherboard i'm guessing. so right now it's running bigadv and 1 gpu.
i just hope i can get the one i built running bigadv in ubuntu. i'll keep you updated
so i have 3 i7 920 systems. one is an asus and it's running bigadv and 2 x gpu. it's been my best reliable system so far. it's running well right now
my second system was just running 3 x gpu. i wasn't running bigadv b/c it had a heat problem. this is one i built. i decided to take everything apart and take off the cpu cooler it came with and i put on this huge one that i bought. it took an hour, but i got it! and it works great. the problem is that now it doesn't recognize all my ram. i had 6 GB, which is enough for running bigadv units in a VM in windows, and then run several gpu clients. but with only 4 GB of ram, this won't work. so i'm in the process of installing ubuntu right now on it. this will take away some of my gpus
and my third i7 rig is an alienware. it came with one GTX 260, and i decided to take one from my home built system and put in the this one. it's got 2 slots, but of course the second slot doesn't work. i called alienware, and they are supposed to come out and fix it. probably a new motherboard i'm guessing. so right now it's running bigadv and 1 gpu.
i just hope i can get the one i built running bigadv in ubuntu. i'll keep you updated
cynerjist
Jan 8, 10:40 PM
Probably. :D BTW, you have a link to that? Edit: nvm I found it on MS's site. (http://www.microsoft.com/events/executives/billgates.mspx)
i couldn't get anything that's a windows media file to play. here is a link for people with that problem. it has all keynotes as .flv
http://media.digitaltrends.com/digitaltrends/ces_2007_-_keynote_part_1.html
i couldn't get anything that's a windows media file to play. here is a link for people with that problem. it has all keynotes as .flv
http://media.digitaltrends.com/digitaltrends/ces_2007_-_keynote_part_1.html
BJ.SoundWave360
Apr 16, 02:08 AM
Google does search.
Apple does design and creativity.
Google does books. No, as we've seen.
Google does music. No.
Apple.
Apple does design and creativity.
Google does books. No, as we've seen.
Google does music. No.
Apple.
tuartboy
Jan 9, 03:20 PM
There's a ticker? I've been using a custom style sheet for about 2 years now and I guess I don't even know what is on some sites. Probably a bunch of ads.
All I know is that I put up on all of my IM clients an away message that said don't spoil it for me and someone skyped me and ruined a little bit of it. I don't really care about that specific thing though, so it wasn't a big deal.
I just want to watch the keynote. A group of us took off work for the WWDC keynote and I'm off for this one too. I decided at about 8:55 PST that I would wait for the keynote later and I've been on errands since. Unless they are encoding it on a Pismo, it should be up soon...
Heh, a Pismo. That would rule.
All I know is that I put up on all of my IM clients an away message that said don't spoil it for me and someone skyped me and ruined a little bit of it. I don't really care about that specific thing though, so it wasn't a big deal.
I just want to watch the keynote. A group of us took off work for the WWDC keynote and I'm off for this one too. I decided at about 8:55 PST that I would wait for the keynote later and I've been on errands since. Unless they are encoding it on a Pismo, it should be up soon...
Heh, a Pismo. That would rule.
iOrlando
Apr 25, 10:26 AM
I think this is a great feature, and long overdue. It is very difficult to actually read through these comment threads once they hit 100 posts or so.
Few things:
1) I suggest have absolute tallies for the up and down votes. If one post got 300 votes on it, but the up votes offset the down votes, it would end up showing as 0 vs. a relatively obscure post that simply gets 4 up ratings would show up as 4. I want to see the comments that garnered a lot of attention/votes.
2) I also suggest coloring up arrows as green and down arrows as red. Much easier on the eye.
3) For those arguing about abuse with this feature, this site is geared for pro-Apple people, so any sense of impartiality or neutrality within the comments is non-existence. If people come to this site wanting pro-Apple stuff, they shouldn't be faced with trolls and other Apple haters.
Few things:
1) I suggest have absolute tallies for the up and down votes. If one post got 300 votes on it, but the up votes offset the down votes, it would end up showing as 0 vs. a relatively obscure post that simply gets 4 up ratings would show up as 4. I want to see the comments that garnered a lot of attention/votes.
2) I also suggest coloring up arrows as green and down arrows as red. Much easier on the eye.
3) For those arguing about abuse with this feature, this site is geared for pro-Apple people, so any sense of impartiality or neutrality within the comments is non-existence. If people come to this site wanting pro-Apple stuff, they shouldn't be faced with trolls and other Apple haters.
evilgEEk
Jan 15, 12:36 AM
Wow. Are they 14 years old?
Seriously, I remember doing something like this back in junior high school with one of those giant remote control watches.
But that was when I was 14 years old; this is just ridiculous, and not funny in the least. Way to show some professionalism. I truly hope they suffer for this.
I really am baffled that "adults" would find this funny.
Idiots.
Seriously, I remember doing something like this back in junior high school with one of those giant remote control watches.
But that was when I was 14 years old; this is just ridiculous, and not funny in the least. Way to show some professionalism. I truly hope they suffer for this.
I really am baffled that "adults" would find this funny.
Idiots.
Shannighan
Apr 8, 09:42 AM
Ultraviolet
http://www.djfl.de/entertainment/djfl/1120/bilder/112432p_usa.jpg
Return that. I'll send you my BD for free.
EDIT: Actually I just saw you are in Germany, you can still have it if you pay shipping, but I don't know if it will work because of country restrictions...
http://www.djfl.de/entertainment/djfl/1120/bilder/112432p_usa.jpg
Return that. I'll send you my BD for free.
EDIT: Actually I just saw you are in Germany, you can still have it if you pay shipping, but I don't know if it will work because of country restrictions...
takao
Nov 30, 05:54 AM
IMO the spy plane is way better then the RC car. The RC car really only benefits you and you might only get one or two kills with it. Where as the spy plan helps your whole team and I find it so much easier to get kills with spy planes up. Rarely do people bother to shoot down spy planes as well.
too true .. and the sr-71 can really be a game changer
interesting though is that even if you carry around a rocket launcher that you still carry a sidearm for the "second chance" perk
too true .. and the sr-71 can really be a game changer
interesting though is that even if you carry around a rocket launcher that you still carry a sidearm for the "second chance" perk
jjrtiger
May 2, 09:39 AM
Not that I really care about the tracking services...but I wonder if Apple will skip the 3G again with this update...
juststranded
Oct 17, 09:33 AM
Being completely serious, the porn industry has a lot to do with it.
VHS vs. BETAMAX, BETAMAX was teh better product, but the porn industry went with VHS and thus forced it into production more than BETAMAX.
Bluray vs. HD DVD, Bluray is better, and teh porn industry has gone with Blueray. I think between all teh competitors and the porn industry Bluray will stick this one out and win it.
Apple may also just be waiting it out a little longer to see which one is looking stronger. Yes, putting Bluray in Macs would help Bluray to win, but if they put them in, and HD DVD wins, there's a few millions Macs out there with onsolete drives in them that can't play the standard HD format disc.
I'll give it 6 months befre Apple chooses one or the other officially to put into their machines.
VHS vs. BETAMAX, BETAMAX was teh better product, but the porn industry went with VHS and thus forced it into production more than BETAMAX.
Bluray vs. HD DVD, Bluray is better, and teh porn industry has gone with Blueray. I think between all teh competitors and the porn industry Bluray will stick this one out and win it.
Apple may also just be waiting it out a little longer to see which one is looking stronger. Yes, putting Bluray in Macs would help Bluray to win, but if they put them in, and HD DVD wins, there's a few millions Macs out there with onsolete drives in them that can't play the standard HD format disc.
I'll give it 6 months befre Apple chooses one or the other officially to put into their machines.
err404
May 2, 01:25 PM
Isn't it interesting how a seemingly intentional act (active user tracking) changes to a "bug" once it's existence is published in the news media? :D
Not again... The database in question is NOT used by Apple to actively track users. It's a local cache on your phone, sent to you from Apple. This database serves a legitimate purpose on your phone to improve the performance of location services.
The issue is that this DB can be used by others (not Apple) to gain in-site into your relative location over time. Technically I wouldn't even call this a 'bug' since it's working as designed. However it is a serious oversight on Apples part.
FTR - Apple does collect location data from your phone (assuming you opted-in). This tracking is done via entirely different process than is being discussed.
Not again... The database in question is NOT used by Apple to actively track users. It's a local cache on your phone, sent to you from Apple. This database serves a legitimate purpose on your phone to improve the performance of location services.
The issue is that this DB can be used by others (not Apple) to gain in-site into your relative location over time. Technically I wouldn't even call this a 'bug' since it's working as designed. However it is a serious oversight on Apples part.
FTR - Apple does collect location data from your phone (assuming you opted-in). This tracking is done via entirely different process than is being discussed.
Chris204
Jan 10, 03:38 PM
I bet they won't be getting press passes again next year to CES.
Huntn
May 5, 06:20 PM
Guns are within my scope of practice (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/rchoi/detail?entry_id=88328)
Couple this with the fact that the NRA has prevented any studies on guns and their impact on American society and I think we can all rest assured that we're heading towards a society ruled by the American Taliban. Heavy sarcasm intended.
If guns are so important to society, why is it taboo to have an adult conversation about their impact on that society?
Why? In the mind of the NRA:
Step 1: Talk about guns.
Step 10: Ban and confiscate guns.
Therefore they resist even common sense initiatives supported by police such as gun fingerprinting.
Couple this with the fact that the NRA has prevented any studies on guns and their impact on American society and I think we can all rest assured that we're heading towards a society ruled by the American Taliban. Heavy sarcasm intended.
If guns are so important to society, why is it taboo to have an adult conversation about their impact on that society?
Why? In the mind of the NRA:
Step 1: Talk about guns.
Step 10: Ban and confiscate guns.
Therefore they resist even common sense initiatives supported by police such as gun fingerprinting.
KnightWRX
Apr 29, 07:54 PM
Well you're two comments are linked.
Both my comments refer to the look. Windows 7 looks like a bad Enlightenment theme. Anyway, the "translucent" plastic was ripped off KDE 4.x (which is true, look at plasma), which while not sharing the bad hack ridden architecture of the 90s version enlightenment does seem to share the look of its themes.
Context. Is. Everything.
All these months, and again you try to argue with me over what I meant. New Zealanders really have a problem with the concept of "I know better what I meant that you do and it was clearly posted had you followed the context".
Both my comments refer to the look. Windows 7 looks like a bad Enlightenment theme. Anyway, the "translucent" plastic was ripped off KDE 4.x (which is true, look at plasma), which while not sharing the bad hack ridden architecture of the 90s version enlightenment does seem to share the look of its themes.
Context. Is. Everything.
All these months, and again you try to argue with me over what I meant. New Zealanders really have a problem with the concept of "I know better what I meant that you do and it was clearly posted had you followed the context".
toddybody
May 2, 01:13 PM
NSA does not have a security expert at Apple. Apple has a security expert who used to be with the NSA. Big difference.
To your knowledge, they dont.
To your knowledge, they dont.
Benjy91
Apr 7, 09:59 AM
Is Windows 8 then Windows 7.0, like Windows Seven is actually Windows 6.1?
Thats just the NT version. Windows 8 will be 6.2
7 was 6.1,
Vista was 6.0
XP was 5.0
Technically Windows 7 is the 10th version of Windows, if you don't count Windows Server.
Windows 7 is the 7th version if you count from Windows 95.
Thats just the NT version. Windows 8 will be 6.2
7 was 6.1,
Vista was 6.0
XP was 5.0
Technically Windows 7 is the 10th version of Windows, if you don't count Windows Server.
Windows 7 is the 7th version if you count from Windows 95.
iMeowbot
Sep 25, 01:52 PM
Sorry, but Apple released Aperture BEFORE Adobe did the same with its app...so it's easier to have a clone of Apple's app, not the opposite...:rolleyes:
Right, a product in development since 2002 (http://photoshopnews.com/2006/01/09/the-shadowlandlightroom-development-story/) was a copy of a product released in 2005 :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Right, a product in development since 2002 (http://photoshopnews.com/2006/01/09/the-shadowlandlightroom-development-story/) was a copy of a product released in 2005 :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Nekbeth
Apr 27, 08:39 PM
.h
#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
@interface ATimerViewController : UIViewController {
#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>
@interface ATimerViewController : UIViewController {
Lord Blackadder
Aug 7, 12:31 PM
I think the Volt is a technological dead-end given the steep US$41,000 price and the fact your car is lugging around a big bank of batteries as deadweight.
<snip>
There are rumors that a new generation of Euro 6-compliant turbodiesels being developed at Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW will likely be offered in the USA as early as the 2012 calendar year.
I agree. People are so eager to move on to alternative energy sources they are trying to skip the intermediate step - which is to make all internal combustion engines as efficient as possible so out global petroleum use can be stretched as far as possible.
I'm excited about the large-scale introduction of diesel passenger cars into the US - by the time I'm ready to buy my next car I should be able to choose from new diesels by VW, Volvo, Merc, BMW, Alfa Romeo, possibly Fiat, and the usual Japanese suspects. The Big Three will hopefully follow along with this as well.
Europe was forced to explore the benefits of diesel cars 40-50 years ago. The USA is only now beginning to face the same stark reality that fuel is scarce, expensive, and getting more expensive by the day.
<snip>
There are rumors that a new generation of Euro 6-compliant turbodiesels being developed at Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW will likely be offered in the USA as early as the 2012 calendar year.
I agree. People are so eager to move on to alternative energy sources they are trying to skip the intermediate step - which is to make all internal combustion engines as efficient as possible so out global petroleum use can be stretched as far as possible.
I'm excited about the large-scale introduction of diesel passenger cars into the US - by the time I'm ready to buy my next car I should be able to choose from new diesels by VW, Volvo, Merc, BMW, Alfa Romeo, possibly Fiat, and the usual Japanese suspects. The Big Three will hopefully follow along with this as well.
Europe was forced to explore the benefits of diesel cars 40-50 years ago. The USA is only now beginning to face the same stark reality that fuel is scarce, expensive, and getting more expensive by the day.
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