Computer network and systems expert who does some recreational programming, enjoys sports (especially snowboarding), reading, and admins the site www.grimadmin.com.
I think Richard hit the issue on the head when he said that these large providers are often constantly under attack. No matter who you are, you are eventually going to make a mistake. When you have such a large user-base out there, not only are more and more people going to try to break in (because if they do they've hit gold), but with so many users it's more likely someone will NOTICE the issue. If my home Web server has a bug that lets you authenticate with any password, it may take months before you even notice it yourself. When it's a service that has many thousands of users, someone will notice quite quickly and someone will take advantage of it.
I believe the court said that the 'illegal copy' of the OS was when it was copied into RAM. This never made any sense to me, but I remember reading a while ago that there was precedent to this argument. The copying of the OS into RAM is usually authorized when software is purchased, but in this case Apple did not authorize the copying of their code in that fashion.
The one area where I can see the count off at first glance is all the LITE & FREE versions of apps on the store that are nothing more than demos of the full version.
This (and a few other reasons) is why any online seller should set up some sort of alerting system if a product page is receiving insane amounts of traffic, and ESPECIALLY so if that high amount of traffic becomes a high amount sales.
While I absolutely agree with you, Mike, on your stance concerning Google Street View and that it can be quite useful for certain things, catching criminals in action probably isn't one of those things. That's a once in a decade happenstance and thus wouldn't be fair to be used as an argument for being pro Street View. Other than the fact it shows that sometimes image records come in handy as a historical reference, there's really nothing more than an eye-catching coincidence here.
Concerning cell phones in the classroom, I'm on both sides of the line. Do cell phones even belong in the classroom? I don't personally think they do. They are a distraction to the class if they go off and there will always be those who will text and such when they should be paying attention.
If there's an emergency, I think most classrooms by now have either a phone or intercom system to convey that message to someone. If there's a home emergency, they can always call the school's office and have them pull the student out of class. If a student needs to call a parent after school for a pickup or something like that, why not allow phones at the school, but not in the classroom. They can keep it in their locker. At the very least, students should have their phones in silent mode during the class.
Obviously, I do not think it is appropriate for a teacher to hit a student for any reason unless the student was intending bodily harm to someone in the class. A cell phone with video capabilities would be a good tool to record what actually happened. But, the danger with all things like this is that it can often leave out much of the story, or just pick up the second half of what really happened.
Case in point, my uncle is currently subbing at a school for a teacher who was forced to go for hitting a student. What I found out after my initial reaction is that the stupid kid decided to piss on the teacher. If a 17 year old was pissing on me, my initial thoughts for reaction would probably be something along the same lines. I'd probably think better of it a few milliseconds later.
All that being said, maybe if a school is really that bad, they should have cameras in most of the classrooms recording what happens at all times (if they could afford it which is probably not).
Re: Re:
I think Richard hit the issue on the head when he said that these large providers are often constantly under attack. No matter who you are, you are eventually going to make a mistake. When you have such a large user-base out there, not only are more and more people going to try to break in (because if they do they've hit gold), but with so many users it's more likely someone will NOTICE the issue. If my home Web server has a bug that lets you authenticate with any password, it may take months before you even notice it yourself. When it's a service that has many thousands of users, someone will notice quite quickly and someone will take advantage of it.
addendum
I should make note the RAM thing was in addition to the imaging station thing. Groklaw.net seems to have an in-depth explanation.
Ilegal Copying into RAM
I believe the court said that the 'illegal copy' of the OS was when it was copied into RAM. This never made any sense to me, but I remember reading a while ago that there was precedent to this argument. The copying of the OS into RAM is usually authorized when software is purchased, but in this case Apple did not authorize the copying of their code in that fashion.
Lite Apps
The one area where I can see the count off at first glance is all the LITE & FREE versions of apps on the store that are nothing more than demos of the full version.
Sales alerts
This (and a few other reasons) is why any online seller should set up some sort of alerting system if a product page is receiving insane amounts of traffic, and ESPECIALLY so if that high amount of traffic becomes a high amount sales.
Google, Crime Solvers
While I absolutely agree with you, Mike, on your stance concerning Google Street View and that it can be quite useful for certain things, catching criminals in action probably isn't one of those things. That's a once in a decade happenstance and thus wouldn't be fair to be used as an argument for being pro Street View. Other than the fact it shows that sometimes image records come in handy as a historical reference, there's really nothing more than an eye-catching coincidence here.
both sides? (as MikeP)
Concerning cell phones in the classroom, I'm on both sides of the line. Do cell phones even belong in the classroom? I don't personally think they do. They are a distraction to the class if they go off and there will always be those who will text and such when they should be paying attention.
If there's an emergency, I think most classrooms by now have either a phone or intercom system to convey that message to someone. If there's a home emergency, they can always call the school's office and have them pull the student out of class. If a student needs to call a parent after school for a pickup or something like that, why not allow phones at the school, but not in the classroom. They can keep it in their locker. At the very least, students should have their phones in silent mode during the class.
Obviously, I do not think it is appropriate for a teacher to hit a student for any reason unless the student was intending bodily harm to someone in the class. A cell phone with video capabilities would be a good tool to record what actually happened. But, the danger with all things like this is that it can often leave out much of the story, or just pick up the second half of what really happened.
Case in point, my uncle is currently subbing at a school for a teacher who was forced to go for hitting a student. What I found out after my initial reaction is that the stupid kid decided to piss on the teacher. If a 17 year old was pissing on me, my initial thoughts for reaction would probably be something along the same lines. I'd probably think better of it a few milliseconds later.
All that being said, maybe if a school is really that bad, they should have cameras in most of the classrooms recording what happens at all times (if they could afford it which is probably not).