Aaron deOliveira 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (81) comment rss

  • On the post: When A Bar Urinal Is Smarter Than Its Patrons

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 25 May, 2006 @ 12:40pm

    This seems like one of those random things that happens from time to time. I would have loved to see the bid process - since i'm assuming it's a city contract that's paying Wizmark. Did anyone at the police or city government actually test these things? :) Can you imagine the powerpoints for this product?

  • On the post: Still Waiting For A Solution To Waiting In Lines

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 25 May, 2006 @ 10:54am

    Equity position?

    Is there equity in waiting? You're investing your time, name, various intangible resources. So this company is trying to create equity here and make it liquid.

    Personally I'd like to see it go forward. It'd be an interesting experiment. Yes, the initial blowback will be that waiting lists get incredibly long and that opportunists will stalk ticket sellers and the like. I believe that the market will balance itself out though. Just like real estate, when too many people pile on the price goes down until enough people get off and a balanced market is achieved.

    In the long run I could see this service benifiting people. Much like eBay does. eBay has really driven down the price of a lot of items and at the same time made a lot of money for a lot of people.

  • On the post: The Media Immersion Pod: Taking The Internet Cafe To A New Level

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 16 May, 2006 @ 07:15am

    How long until someone dies in one of these and they're called evil. Like the kid who spent 36 hours or a video game and died.

  • On the post: Should Living At Altitude Be Banned Like Steroids?

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 12 May, 2006 @ 05:29am

    Re: Natural enhancements

    Entertainer and Athlete is definitly an interesting comparison. I'll have to think about that for awhile.

  • On the post: Should Living At Altitude Be Banned Like Steroids?

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 12 May, 2006 @ 04:27am

    That really seems like a random thing to ban. You could always just go to higher altitudes. Is Denver suddenly off limits? I think this one will fall through.

    And how is it unnatural. It just simulates an environment that anyone could go to. It only exists for convience, not cheating.

    It's not like the creator of it decided he wanted to play with atmosphere one day. The benifits of high altitude were already known and he just simulated it.

  • On the post: Nextel Ups The Stakes In Marketing To Paranoid Parents

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 06 Apr, 2006 @ 08:08pm

    Where will the paranoid go next

    If you're going to have it go off in proximity to sex offenders, what's next? you could theoretically mash this service with Goolge Earth or MapQuest. Anything with local information.

    This is going to feed every persons paranoia. Are people on diets going to have alerts sent to their spouses anytime they get near a candy bar or a fast food joint?

  • On the post: Patent Troll Wins Again

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 16 Dec, 2005 @ 04:31am

    Re: No Subject Given

    I feel that the analogy is missing the point not just in the tangibility of goods, but because software patents are on ideas and processes that are incredibly obvious.

    If someone pantented renting out a house and then told you that you couldn't rent your house. That would be anagelous to the situation with software patents.

  • On the post: MPAA Sues Man Over Movies It Can't Find

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 14 Dec, 2005 @ 05:10am

    No Subject Given

    I read the linked article and it seems a much a come on for a wifi security package as anything else. Secure your wifi or some organization will come and sue you.

  • On the post: Note To Online Newspapers: Stop Removing Old Content

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 10 Nov, 2005 @ 11:48am

    Re: wire services

    I think this has mostly to do with the money they make from selling their archives.

  • On the post: Judge Upholds Huge Patent Fee For Prepaid Mobile Services

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 02 Sep, 2005 @ 01:13pm

    Re: No Subject Given

    There will always be R&D. People think. People tinker. I try to improve things all the time. I'm always looking at source code trying to learn something or taking something apart to see how it ticks.

    There will no longer be a monopoly as an incentive for R&D, true. However, R&D is driven by more than just the incentive of a monopoly.

  • On the post: Taiwan Looking To Make WiMax That Much Less Valuable

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 30 Aug, 2005 @ 04:13pm

    No Subject Given

    I lived in Taiwan for 3 years and got to deal with the wonderful Zhong Hua Telephone, the government monopoly. They are very protective of their monopoly. I wonder if they'll end up like the RIAA/RCAA.

  • On the post: California Makes Slightest Push For Naked DSL

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 28 Aug, 2005 @ 06:43pm

    Re: No Subject Given

    and now with VOIP and other voice/data offerings why would people want/need a land line with their net connection?

  • On the post: Plans For NYC Subway Cell Network Move Ahead

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 26 Aug, 2005 @ 08:37am

    Re: No Subject Given

    All in all, I think having a cell network in subways would be more safe, not less. Having all those eyeballs be able to report accidents, crimes and suspicions would make things a lot safer and a lot harder for any would be terrorist trying to sneak something on the subway.

  • On the post: Does The Wall Street Journal Risk Becoming Irrelevant?

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 01 Aug, 2005 @ 09:36pm

    Re: Interesting point.

    "Please direct me to 3 (I'm serious) such sources."
    Mostly I use Yahoo!News, Google News and other news aggregates to stay abrest of change in the business world. When something strikes my fancy for an investment, I check them out at places like Motley Fool.
    This tiered approach provides me with all the information in the WSJ and more.
    (I'm not sure if that counts as 2 or 3 sources for investing info)

  • On the post: Cell Tower Switching Causes Driver Distraction?

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 28 Jul, 2005 @ 08:16am

    Re: Cellphones while walking

    "If a person can't walk and cell-talk at the same time, what makes them think they can drive and cell-talk at the same time?"

    good points :)

  • On the post: IPTV Saga: Verizon Sticks With Good Ol' Lobbying, Adds Cash Incentive

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 17 Jun, 2005 @ 12:17pm

    bribes

    It?s not a bribe in this case. The state is entering into a financial arrangement with a company just like any other entity. The amount of return you get from that arrangement can effect how quickly you accept things.
    States are sometimes commercial entities just like companies. They sell products like lower taxes, subsidies, etc. States market directly to companies to enter into financial arrangements of this sort with them. Look at Deleware and Nevada. Two states that set themselves apart as business friendly states.

  • On the post: McDonald's Continues To Test Random McTech Ideas

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 15 Jun, 2005 @ 04:22pm

    Re: just burgers

    there's actually one of these DVD vending machines, called redbox, at my local mcdonalds. i was kinda taken a back by it at first as i don't really equate fast food with my movie rentals. however, their ads on all the tables seems to at least partially clear up who their target market might be. the ad showed a bunch of kids in a minivan staring up at the dvd screen. so i guess after a game it mcdonalds for burgers, ice cream and dvds :)

    i'm sure some exec. in mcdonalds is all hyped about this, but it doesn't seem like the rest of the company is really paying attention to it. from what i saw the franchise owner in the store really wasn't paying much attention to it. i also inspected the half installed machine. it seems to be franchised itself to someone other than the mcdonalds owner. i guess like those internet kiosks in malls. it doesn't seem like mcdonald's corp is dumping too much of their own money into this.

  • On the post: Shop Offline, Buy Online

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 06 Jun, 2005 @ 02:24pm

    stealing?

    How in the world is spending time in a store stealing? That would mean that stores made sales to 100% of the customers who come in the door. Sometimes I go to a store just because I know they have things I like. I don't go specifically to buy something. So if I walk out of the store, have I stolen? Or how about this. I see something I like, but it won't fit in my budget right now. Then I see it online or at another B/M store for less. If I buy it there, am I stealing from the previous store? The customer is under no obligation to the store.
    B/M stores and web stores are competing more closely. Their markets are converging. Just like telephone, cable, net and other electronic sectors. PDAs and SmartPhones are a good example.

  • On the post: Spying On Your Kids Is In For 2004

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 25 May, 2005 @ 02:05pm

    Re: No Subject Given

    my thought exactly. kids will give there parents the slip whether or not tech is involved. someone will just figure out how to spoof the signal and put it on a cat or something.

  • On the post: Fired For Explaining How File Sharing Can Be Legal And Good?

    Aaron deOliveira ( profile ), 20 May, 2005 @ 05:35am

    No Subject Given

    it's azazing how many people are getting behind mr. cortell. i'm pleased to see people taking action on this. his personal site which details a lot of what 's going on is http://jorge.cortell.net you can also find a recording of his lecture at http://homepage.mac.com/jorgecortell/blogwavestudio/LH20041021114344/index.html

Next >>