DannyB 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Photographer Licenses Photo To Shutterstock, Is Shocked When It Plays Out Exactly How Everyone Would Imagine

    DannyB ( profile ), 07 Jan, 2019 @ 06:19am

    The Early Days of Netflix

    A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away . . .

    Netflix rented disks made of delicious polycarbonate plastic by snail mail with return envelopes.

    Then one day Netflix offered movies by some new fangled streaming over the intarweb tubes.

    Hollywood, just like the music recording industry didn't have any vision and therefore didn't believe this internet streaming of movies would work out. After all, why would anyone want a service that didn't require you to even get up from your chair to put in a DVD, let you watch any movie you wanted, at any time you wanted, without annoyitating commercials, for cost far lower than cable TV?

    Before very long, but still long ago from now, Netflix had quite a lot of really good movie titles.

    Like this photographer, I'm sure Hollywood thought they would license their movies "for a little extra money". After all, this streaming thing wasn't going to last or ever take off.

    Netflix streaming blossomed. Hollywood must have been green with envy -- how hard could it be to set up a streaming service? Eventually many of those good titles on Netflix disappeared to be replaced with less desirable content. Raise your hands if you remember this?

    Like this photographer, I'm sure Hollywood was shocked that someone else could make a lot of money from a licensed copyright work.

  • On the post: AT&T Attempts A Head Fake With 'Fake 5G'

    DannyB ( profile ), 02 Jan, 2019 @ 06:11am

    AT&T is always innovating

    The marketing department is working very hard on 6G. I'm going to hold off and wait for 6G which will be along soon, and will be Sooooo much better than puny 5G.

  • On the post: UK Spies Say They're Dropping Bulk Data Collection For Bulk Equipment Interference

    DannyB ( profile ), 12 Dec, 2018 @ 06:12am

    Warrant process?

    There's a judge involved now, making this more of a warrant process

    I think you meant a rubber stamp process.

    To do high volume rubber stamping, the UK should study from the master: the USPTO.

  • On the post: Latest EU Copyright Proposal: Block Everything, Never Make Mistakes, But Don't Use Upload Filters

    DannyB ( profile ), 11 Dec, 2018 @ 06:09am

    MPAA / RIAA don't even know what is 'suspected'

    When the MPAA and RIAA can't even correctly identify whether something is copyrighted, or whether they own that copyright, then how can they expect anyone else to do so?

  • On the post: Microsoft Posts List Of Facial Recognition Tech Guidelines It Thinks The Government Should Make Mandatory

    DannyB ( profile ), 11 Dec, 2018 @ 06:06am

    Microsoft would never collaborate with government

    It is inconceivable (NSAKEY) that Microsoft would ever collaborate with the government to spy on everyone.

  • On the post: It's Been 50 Years: Take Some Time This Weekend To Watch Doug Engelbart's Mother Of All Demos

    DannyB ( profile ), 10 Dec, 2018 @ 06:26am

    Primitive Technology

    When I look back to 1975, at the state of microcomputers, it is shocking how primitive the technology was. I can't imagine 1968 computers made from stone knives and bear skins.

    If you look at BYTE magazine from the period of 1975 to 1980 it is instructive to see just how much things advanced. The early home brew microcomputers were all unique. No software compatibility. Everyone had a custom way of interfacing a keyboard to their computer for example.

    By 1977 we see the 'holy trinity' appear: Commodore PET, Apple II, and TRS-80. This was the start of software standardization on a large scale. (In just a couple years Radio Shack boasts of selling more computers than any other computer company ever -- so I would say that really was a standard platform for software more so than any prior computer, but similarly for Apple II and Commodore PET.)

    It still took until 1983 to get the Apple Lisa. And that was just a bit ahead of its time -- what I mean is that the hardware still hadn't caught up to the dream. It didn't exactly fly off shelves. I don't recall much 3rd party commercial software for it. In 1984 the original 128 K Mac, and that was just barely enough hardware capability to effectively build mass market GUI software for.

    That is a real testament to how far ahead of its time this demo really was. On such primitive computing hardware of the day.

    It is a trip back in time, but if you want to look at old BYTE magazines, they are here:
    https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Byte_Magazine.htm

    or higher res scans here:
    https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine

    and just for fun, Popular Electronics here:
    https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Popular-Electronics-Guide.htm

  • On the post: When A 'Trade War' Involves Seizing And Imprisoning Foreign Execs, It's No Longer Just About Trade

    DannyB ( profile ), 07 Dec, 2018 @ 11:16am

    Re:

    He needs people to adore him. So he never misses an opportunity.

  • On the post: The TV Sector's Latest Bad Idea: Ads That Play When You Press Pause

    DannyB ( profile ), 07 Dec, 2018 @ 06:10am

    I've said it before

    Advertising eventually destroys every medium it touches.

    Radio. TV. Cable. Magazines. DVD. Billboards.

  • On the post: ESPN Has Lost 14 Million Viewers In 7 Years Thanks To Cord Cutting

    DannyB ( profile ), 29 Nov, 2018 @ 06:07am

    Other cord cutting losses

    Not only has ESPN lost viewers . . . but cable tv companies have no doubt lost subscribers because of ESPN being forced upon them.

  • On the post: We Interrupt All The Hating On Technology To Remind Everyone We Just Landed On Mars

    DannyB ( profile ), 28 Nov, 2018 @ 06:14am

    Re: The only country to do so

    Not only is the United States the only country that has successfully landed a craft on Mars; it may be the first or only country that will have a copyright litigation when one Mars astronaut copies another astronaut's mp3 file.

  • On the post: Red Bull Fails To Block Trademark Registration In EU Over Logos That Aren't All That Similar

    DannyB ( profile ), 20 Nov, 2018 @ 06:27am

    Similarity

    I would point out that both logos have shades of yellow.

    Both logos have only two colors.
    One is yellow and black.
    The other is yellow and red.
    The logos have some symmetry.
    Both logos are two dimensional.

    Once you spot the similarities between the logos it is clear there must be infringement.

  • On the post: $337,000 Settlement Headed To Elementary School Students Handcuffed By School Resource Officers

    DannyB ( profile ), 20 Nov, 2018 @ 06:22am

    A reasonable solution

    Perhaps school administrators and police can work out a reasonable solution such as:

    * child sized hand cuffs
    * child appropriate tasers
    * flavored pepper spray
    * child sized detention cells

    By having tools that are specifically designed for children, they could eliminate any inhibition that police and administrators have in using these tools.

  • On the post: Comcast To Battle Cord Cutting By… Reinventing The Closed Cable Box

    DannyB ( profile ), 20 Nov, 2018 @ 06:16am

    Oh good! That's just what I've been waiting for!

    Dear Comcast,

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    That is just what I've been wanting! This is just the thing that will make me want to come back to cable tv again!

    A closed cable tv box is my dream come true.

    With a closed cable tv box I would be so happy that I could overlook minor things like:

    * reality tv
    * reruns or reruns
    * marathons of reruns
    * programs with more ads than content
    * ads that are obnoxiously loud
    * after a long string of ads, the program content is then obscured by characters and animations that walk out on the screen covering the content -- sometimes even items that are critical to the plot of the story
    * inability to record some programs
    * being tied to a schedule
    * high prices
    * sudden rapid price increases
    * regular high price increases
    * award winning service -- for being the worst and most hated company ever!
    * inability to cancel my account, ever
    * technicians who strive for the corporate goal of technical incompetence

    Thanks to your closed tv box, I am signing up. Enclosed is a blank check. Please fill in the amount and activate my service anytime within the next 24 months!

    Again, thanks!

  • On the post: Judge Lets NRA's 1st Amendment Lawsuit Against Andrew Cuomo Move Forward

    DannyB ( profile ), 14 Nov, 2018 @ 12:38pm

    Re: Re: Holiday Reminder PSA

    Either sarcasm or do not sarcasm. There is no try.

    Point: the NRA will never accept even common sense ideas like keeping firearms out of the hands of mentally ill people or others who clearly should not have them. It is a gun manufacturers association masquerading as trying to protect gun owners' rights.

  • On the post: The Girl Scouts Sues The Boy Scouts Over Trademark

    DannyB ( profile ), 14 Nov, 2018 @ 06:06am

    Re: Just a bit of history

    Do the Girl Scouts allow boys to join?

  • On the post: Judge Lets NRA's 1st Amendment Lawsuit Against Andrew Cuomo Move Forward

    DannyB ( profile ), 14 Nov, 2018 @ 10:30am

    Holiday Reminder PSA

    Please remember this holiday season that firearms make excellent gifts for the entire family. Family packs available at participating retailers. Check out the new Starter Guns sized just right for the little ones. Please use firearms responsibly when drinking. The NRA offers discounts to those who can show proof of mental impairment or illness.

  • On the post: Pennsylvania Attorney General Sends Broad, Unconstitutional Gag Order To Gab's New DNS Provider

    DannyB ( profile ), 13 Nov, 2018 @ 11:05am

    Go after the Users not the Site

    Of course, we all know this on TD.

    The DNS, the connectivity, the infrastructure should be neutral.

    If anyone is at fault it is possibly the Site, but more likely an end user.

    Of course, it's easier to just try to cut them off at the basic infrastructure level.

  • On the post: Governor Of Tanzania's Capital Announces Plan To Round Up Everyone Who Was Too Gay On Social Media

    DannyB ( profile ), 09 Nov, 2018 @ 06:29am

    Re: 'Cut me off in traffic? Oh they are definitely gay.'

    "Officer! That driver must be gay! I can tell by the way they are driving."

  • On the post: Governor Of Tanzania's Capital Announces Plan To Round Up Everyone Who Was Too Gay On Social Media

    DannyB ( profile ), 09 Nov, 2018 @ 06:29am

    Re:

    Consider too, that part of sub saharan Africa are as Christian as some parts of the American South.
    As I read that, I read the phrase "are as Christian" as being sarcastic. To mean having a pretense of being Christian while not actually believing or having any of the evidence of actually being Christian. Like how Trump is a Christian, exhibiting values such as:
    • compassion
    • kindness
    • gentleness
    • temperance
    • forgiveness
    • humility
    • truthfulness
    • integrity
    • good stewardship of resources
    It would be no surprise that these "christians" would want to put gay people in prison -- just as Jesus taught us to do! Organize the religious leaders and punish sinners without grace or mercy seems to have been His example.

  • On the post: FCC Pretends To Hold Carrier Feet To The Fire On Robocalls

    DannyB ( profile ), 08 Nov, 2018 @ 06:24am

    Illegal Robocalls

    I love the qualifier "illegal" before RoboCalls.

    That implies that there should be a distinction between legal and illegal.

    Being cynical, for good reason, I can imagine that the legal robocalls will be something like the anti-net-neutrality "paid prioritization".

    Imagine, phone providers offering "paid prioritization" of robocalls, making it legal for robocallers to provide their robocalling "services" to consumers.

    In return, the phone service providers, and the robocallers will pay under the table money, and campaign contributions to the FCC members who make the new rules.

    Is this scenario really that difficult to imagine?

    Next up, a premium robocalling service option that guarantees the recipient of a robocall cannot hang up or disconnect the robocall until the call has been "completed".

    (The meaning of "completed" will someday be stretched to mean that a credit card number has been taken and charged for something.)

    Yep. Call me crazy, paranoid, insane, crazy, cynical, or crazy.

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