http://www.techdirt.com/ Easily digestible tech news.... http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130501/19380322911/cbs-says-it-could-move-to-cable-few-days-if-aereo-wins-receives-several-offers-to-help-pack-its-bags.shtml#c522 Thu, 2 May 2013 20:20:23 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130501/19380322911/cbs-says-it-could-move-to-cable-few-days-if-aereo-wins-receives-several-offers-to-help-pack-its-bags.shtml#c522
It's the urban centers that get a lot of OTA TV. Where I like, I MAY be able to get an ABC affiliate on a good day with the antenna pointed in the right direction and the wind blowing the right way.

The more rural areas are going to be satellite only, which these days is about as good an option as any. I had DirecTV for two years and I didn't hate it. I don't have it anymore, but I didn't hate it.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130201/13333221858/house-representatives-bans-spotify-because-p2p-tech-must-be-evil.shtml#c295 Sat, 2 Feb 2013 07:47:19 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130201/13333221858/house-representatives-bans-spotify-because-p2p-tech-must-be-evil.shtml#c295
Why do we even care about how the IT people decide to secure their workplace network? I don't see any difference between the government building and any business network, except that the government people may be trying to secure store and transfer classified documents...]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130116/08485121701/nra-games-to-blame-violence-also-heres-shooting-game-4-year-olds.shtml#c2104 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:30:29 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130116/08485121701/nra-games-to-blame-violence-also-heres-shooting-game-4-year-olds.shtml#c2104 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130116/08485121701/nra-games-to-blame-violence-also-heres-shooting-game-4-year-olds.shtml#c95 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:42:26 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130116/08485121701/nra-games-to-blame-violence-also-heres-shooting-game-4-year-olds.shtml#c95 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130116/08485121701/nra-games-to-blame-violence-also-heres-shooting-game-4-year-olds.shtml#c45 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:38:23 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130116/08485121701/nra-games-to-blame-violence-also-heres-shooting-game-4-year-olds.shtml#c45 2. I'm pretty sure their position is that violence, especially that on humans, in video games is what is damaging... and there are studies that show the effects of realistic simulated violence (not just video games) affects violent behavior. Now, I personally disagree with this position, but it should be accurately stated

So, love ya, Tim, but the sensationalist headline on this one is a bit over the top and doesn't really help whatever point you're trying to make.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130114/20113821678/court-blocks-controversial-california-bill-that-takes-away-all-anonymity-any-sex-offenders.shtml#c533 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:33:29 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130114/20113821678/court-blocks-controversial-california-bill-that-takes-away-all-anonymity-any-sex-offenders.shtml#c533 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130111/08053821642/anonymous-launches-white-house-petition-saying-ddos-should-be-recognized-as-valid-form-protest.shtml#c1760 Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:32:29 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130111/08053821642/anonymous-launches-white-house-petition-saying-ddos-should-be-recognized-as-valid-form-protest.shtml#c1760
IT IS! "Anonymous" is not some coherent organized group. It's whatever kids happen to be looking at 4chan.org/b/ at a particular moment.

Not that that's a bad thing or that that should affect the argument in any way, that's just what it is. And that's OK!!

Also this notion that "it's free speech" when it's something positive and "it's hacking" when it's something you don't like is retarded. It doesn't matter whether it's Anonymous or an organized group... DDoS is DDoS. The intent, the source, and the purpose don't affect the definition.

On one hand, a DDoS should *never* be considered "hacking" or "terrorism". That's not accurate at all.

On the other hand, physically occupying space can be more destructive than just "protesting", especially if your purpose is to intimidate. If you're infringing my ability to freely move about in the public square and go about my daily business, you're guilty of more than just "speech" and "protesting".]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130109/14414821620/to-boost-its-new-crappy-drm-hollywood-tries-giving-away-free-movies.shtml#c270 Thu, 10 Jan 2013 09:14:28 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130109/14414821620/to-boost-its-new-crappy-drm-hollywood-tries-giving-away-free-movies.shtml#c270
Like AC said, if it's a movie file, it *can't* contain malware...

However, if you go to some shady sites that have a promise of good quality, recent releases, they'll try to sucker you in by getting you to install their download manager, or fill out an offer for a credit card before you get a download link... but still, you have to be really committed to downloading malware if you make it that far.

The downside to downloaded movies is the lack of metadata. You have to do some manual labor sometimes to get the movie put into your library where all your media players and devices will recognize what it is. For me at home, though, that has all be solved with Plex Server. Plex just figured out what movie it is based on the name of the file and downloads cover art, lots of meta data, and appropriate video thumbnails automatically for the movie as soon as it's done downloading, and it automatically just plays on any device in my house.

For me, the sad thing for Hollywood is that I now get a better PACKAGED experience from my downloaded movies - the cover art, plot summaries, etc, all directly onscreen. The official means of playing an Ultraviolet movie don't give me that experience.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20121228/12224621513/confusing-value-price-choir-demands-3000-per-download.shtml#c908 Mon, 7 Jan 2013 19:12:27 PST http://www.techdirt.com/blog/casestudies/articles/20121228/12224621513/confusing-value-price-choir-demands-3000-per-download.shtml#c908
These girls didn't even manage to pinch off a 1 hour credit in home economics.

And something tells me that was on purpose...]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130103/01213221556/its-time-new-copyright-free-happy-birthday-song-so-help-write-one.shtml#c29 Thu, 3 Jan 2013 11:55:16 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130103/01213221556/its-time-new-copyright-free-happy-birthday-song-so-help-write-one.shtml#c29 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121226/12545321490/amazon-pulls-down-memoir-because-cover-mentions-star-wars.shtml#c510 Thu, 27 Dec 2012 08:13:48 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121226/12545321490/amazon-pulls-down-memoir-because-cover-mentions-star-wars.shtml#c510
If so, then maybe a small disclaimer sticker is enough to resolve the confusion, which is all trademark is really about anyway.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121225/01073621479/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-instagram-because-people-still-dont-like-its-terms-service.shtml#c47 Wed, 26 Dec 2012 06:23:48 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121225/01073621479/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-instagram-because-people-still-dont-like-its-terms-service.shtml#c47
Did they previously NOT claim "ownership" (non-exclusive unconditional license, I assume) on everything uploaded, and now they're claiming "ownership" of everything retroactively before the time it was originally uploaded? If that's the case, then I can see why people are upset, but otherwise, I guess I don't get it]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121217/16231921411/police-chief-deploys-officers-with-assault-rifles-to-stop-id-everyone-says-local-crime-stats-give-him-probable-cause.shtml#c277 Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:58:37 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121217/16231921411/police-chief-deploys-officers-with-assault-rifles-to-stop-id-everyone-says-local-crime-stats-give-him-probable-cause.shtml#c277
The crime here is so low that police get bored. There may be certain "high crime" areas, but the "high crime" areas in this town are better than the "low crime" areas of Memphis, TN. I know the area he's talking about. It's not that bad. You're not going to get shot. You might get solicited for meth, but you're not getting shot.

I haven't seen a single AR15-armed officer, so I'll believe it when I see it.

The local politics here are stupid. The judges are stupid (well, one that I'm familiar with)... the local cable/electric/utility muni-owned company is stupid... This is a town where if you vote against tax increases, then you hate children. I've never run into cops, but I've heard they're not bright either.

Sounds like this idiot has already backed down on his plan.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121210/15222521341/nintendo-still-loves-drm-internet-not-so-much.shtml#c578 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:31:48 PST http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121210/15222521341/nintendo-still-loves-drm-internet-not-so-much.shtml#c578 - In the mid-to-late 90s, I discovered NES emulators. They ran very well on my even-then modest computer. I also tried a SNES emulator. It ran, but it was still the current-gen system at the time, and my computer wasn't powerful enough to run it well.
- In college, I got a computer and a controller. I was able to pirate NES and SNES with ease. I prided myself on being able to store every NES game ever released in the US with ease on a single CD. SNES, too. I experimented with GB emulators. They worked, but I wasn't too interested. I attemped N64 emulators, but they were still slow.
- During the Nintendo DS era, I got a SuperCard. I was pirating current-gen DS games, as well as GBA games. I played Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission for the first time and liked them.
- I currently have a modded Wii. It has a SNES emulator, an NES emulator. I have USB Loader GX. The N64 emulator works well too. I got to play Rush 2049 and bring back some memories with a college buddy one day. Oddly enough, I've never bothered with pirating GCN games. Not for any particular reason, though.
- I even pirated VirtualBoy games one day. I got an emulator that would do side-by-side stereoscopy. So, there I was... playing that Mario & Luigo VirtualBoy game cross-eyed on my laptop.

So, there you go. Nintendo systems are more hackable or piratable than any other system, yet they're the ones who try the hardest to prevent it.

I'll add that I love Nintendo and have given them more money than any other competitor over the years and I will probably continue to do so.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120423/13384918616/wireless-industry-association-opposes-bill-that-would-require-warrant-them-to-turn-data-over-to-law-enforcement.shtml#c129 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:55:18 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120423/13384918616/wireless-industry-association-opposes-bill-that-would-require-warrant-them-to-turn-data-over-to-law-enforcement.shtml#c129 I'm struggling to see what the problem is here. What's wrong with requiring warrants?

They probably don't want to put their employees in a position where the employee requires a warrant according to the law as he understands it, but the employee is incorrect that ends creating an obstruction charge.

Of course, you shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, but that's probably the reason.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120417/04502518523/revolving-door-between-mpaa-federal-government.shtml#c239 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:36:12 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120417/04502518523/revolving-door-between-mpaa-federal-government.shtml#c239 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120403/02585818343/appeals-court-bundling-cable-channels-together-isnt-anticompetitive.shtml#c361 Fri, 6 Apr 2012 15:03:26 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120403/02585818343/appeals-court-bundling-cable-channels-together-isnt-anticompetitive.shtml#c361
I haven't commented much lately, and I hate to log in just to (rarely) disagree with Mike...

But this statement isn't backed up by anything. There's no guarantee that a la carte would be cheaper for most people. The service would definitely be more expensive for cable companies to provide - the question is how much. If you like 30 of your 60 channels, buying those 30 channels 1 or 5 at a time would probably be more expensive. On top of licensing, there's a large technical cost for the cable company to implement a system where your channels are artificially limited so that those other 30 channels are turned off, and a lot of overhead in the billing department as well. Remember, this is cable... all that data is broadcast over the cable anyway. All they're doing is artificially limiting it, and adding the artificial limit adds cost.

Sure, it might be cheaper for the people that only want 5 of those 60 people, but those people are dropping cable for netflix and hulu anyway.

tl;dr: I only view 10 websites a day, but I still pay for all of them and that's good. Why should cable be different?

The future of TV is internet anyway]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120331/02005318318/guy-loses-probation-because-court-decides-that-facebook-myspace-are-electronic-bulletin-boards.shtml#c187 Thu, 5 Apr 2012 11:36:33 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120331/02005318318/guy-loses-probation-because-court-decides-that-facebook-myspace-are-electronic-bulletin-boards.shtml#c187 http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110718/01052415122/star-trek-age-intellectual-property.shtml#c1284 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:19:49 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110718/01052415122/star-trek-age-intellectual-property.shtml#c1284
Capitalism by definition is the default, unfettered state of economy. The existence of replicators doesn't make capitalism go away or difficult to maintain. It just changes how that default state is described a little bit. Time, space, and manpower will always be scarce, so there's always something to "capitalize". Starfleet's members may not be serving to earn higher and higher paychecks. They serve to earn higher prestige and opportunities to go out and look at things. Even after eliminating money itself, capitalism still exists.]]> http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110720/15543515185/ap-finally-learns-that-internet-you-can-link-to-other-sites.shtml#c269 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:35:54 PDT http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110720/15543515185/ap-finally-learns-that-internet-you-can-link-to-other-sites.shtml#c269