"If you need to have backed the game to see this information on their Kickstarter page, that's a big problem for many people. You should have this information upfront before deciding whether or not to put your money there."
I'm not sure I understand your complaint.
People backed the game; and part of that promise was for a DRM Free version. Once the funding period is over; people can no longer back the game--but usually they can purchase it once it is released.
The game devs / publisher later retracted the DRM-free option in a backer only update. I assume you need to be a backer to read the update or the comments on the update.
People--like me--are upset that that we paid for something that had a feature which was retracted.
No; as others have noted in this discussion; games can be released via the Steam digital store without using Steam DRM.
I, personally, don't understand the difference between them. If you backed the game you'll see a lot of the comments on the backer update ask whether the Steam version is DRM free.
I requested a refund as soon as the DRM update came through. They devs were pretty cool and promised to send me a check for the full amount.
The latest update leaves me unclear if I'm still getting a refund. It also leaves me unclear if the "Steam" Version is coming out first.
That said; I want to specify DRM on steam is not required. Devs can release DRM free games on Steam. For the most part, my mind associates Steam with a form of DRM, though.
Firefox only blocked Flash for a day until Adobe fixed the security problem in Flash--which was within 24 hours after they vulnerability was made known publicly.
No; the HTML DRM video tag requires some form of plugin [that comes from Adobe]. It may be something built into the browser in a non-plugin manner, but I'm not sure.
Firefox was the latest holdout on making this rendition official as part of HTML5, but eventually they gave in
Terrestrial radio play -- which is a free service (the kind that Swift has attacked Spotify over) and which doesn't pay the performers anything at all in the US.
I've been out of the music game for a while, however a decade or so ago; the radio stations paid money to performing rights organizations such as BMI and ASCAP. In theory that money goes to the musicians who played on the record and the songwriters.
Do radio stations no longer have to pay for the rights to use these songs?
I live in CT, and in one of the cities that has signed up. I would kill for Gigabyte connection; primarily so I could easily mirror my backup my repository off-site.
I do want to say a few things about Frontier and Cox [the two Internet providers available to me].
I had had DSL for ~15 years. It was SNET DSL, which turned into AT&T DSL, which forced me to upgrade to AT&T UVerse, which then turned into Frontier.
The Frontier conversion was a nightmare; but every time I spoke to someone they were always polite and always tried to help. It seems the systems they were provided were incapable; though. My problem with that conversion was not with Internet, but phone service. Sometimes I forward my home office line to my cell--and that feature would not work.
I switched to COX primarily for faster speeds. All the techs / support people I've worked with have been great. I routinely get download speeds close to double what I'm paying for; and upload speeds are often slightly higher.
When they're were problems--like when my phone service had no voicemail--they fixed them. [Via Twitter after I Sent them a link to a PDF receipt of my sign up confirmation]
I do not have any nightmare customer service stories from either Cox or Frontier. Not a perfect experience, but nothing like what is floating around the Internet.
None of this is a new revelation. Here is a video Google put together a while asking people about the difference between a browser and a search engine:
Microsoft has open source aspects to parts of their business. Not everything they do is open source, but not everything they do is closed source. Here is a list of Microsoft Open Source projects:
I have no idea if Bill Gates was involved in the decision--I would doubt he was.
As a software developer, I'm not sure if "open access" to research can be compared to "open source" software. They seem two very different concepts.
Many people conflate "open source" with free, however that is not the case. Many common open source software licenses place explicit restrictions and limitations on the use of said source code.
"If you're not familiar with the show, Supernatural is the ridiculous story of two brothers who ... generally exhibit the acting chops of a two-day-old potato salad."
I'm a fan. I disagree with your description of their acting chops. Sure, it isn't "Breaking Bad" but it also isn't "Friends" or "Law and Order".
Over the years, they have pulled off many different types of shows, from comedy to serious stuff to action. Part of that is definitely the versatility of the actors. Compared to lots of movies in the 'horror' genre; I'd say the acting is downright brilliant.
Why does Melissa McCarthy get credit?
Why do you say the movie is from the warped mind of Melissa McCarthy?
Based on the Wikipedia page, it just sounds like she is an actor who did some minor uncredited re-writes.
Would it be more accurate to say the movie is from the mind of Todd Berger [the writer] or Brian Henson[the Director]?
Why is this bad?
My personal belief is that times and social memes change. I'd love to see periodic review built into all our laws.
Still the best ISP I ever had
Despite this, Cox is still the best ISP I ever had...
Customer service has primarily been top notch when I do have to call up.
My only other options is Frontier--and they were much more problematic.
The only reason I'm not on a COX business tier plan is because they charge more for less speed.
Common or Con Men?
Did you mean to say Common Sense or Con Men sense?
Meme about Hired Protestors
There is a "meme" image floating around which is, basically, a craigslist ad looking to hire protestors.
I have no idea if it is a true ad, or if it came before Trump's tweet.
Re: Creating an experience to leave the house for...
Alamo Drafthoues isn't local to Texas anymore; they are cropping up all over the US.
I have yet to make it out to one myself yet since the closest one is 3-4 hours away from me.
Re: Re: Re: Re: I requested a refund
"If you need to have backed the game to see this information on their Kickstarter page, that's a big problem for many people. You should have this information upfront before deciding whether or not to put your money there."
I'm not sure I understand your complaint.
People backed the game; and part of that promise was for a DRM Free version. Once the funding period is over; people can no longer back the game--but usually they can purchase it once it is released.
The game devs / publisher later retracted the DRM-free option in a backer only update. I assume you need to be a backer to read the update or the comments on the update.
People--like me--are upset that that we paid for something that had a feature which was retracted.
Re: Re: I requested a refund
No; as others have noted in this discussion; games can be released via the Steam digital store without using Steam DRM.
I, personally, don't understand the difference between them. If you backed the game you'll see a lot of the comments on the backer update ask whether the Steam version is DRM free.
I requested a refund
I requested a refund as soon as the DRM update came through. They devs were pretty cool and promised to send me a check for the full amount.
The latest update leaves me unclear if I'm still getting a refund. It also leaves me unclear if the "Steam" Version is coming out first.
That said; I want to specify DRM on steam is not required. Devs can release DRM free games on Steam. For the most part, my mind associates Steam with a form of DRM, though.
Re: people still use gmail??
You do realize the skills required in signing up for a Gmail account and setting up your own email server are radically different?
I use Google Apps for my biz. Not perfect, but it works.
I love Bloon Tower Defense
I'm a big fan of the Bloon Tower Defense games. I'd put Bloon Monkey City up against your favorite Facebook game in the addiction category.
Re: Re:
Firefox only blocked Flash for a day until Adobe fixed the security problem in Flash--which was within 24 hours after they vulnerability was made known publicly.
All software has similar flaws--even Firefox.
Re: Ummm
No; the HTML DRM video tag requires some form of plugin [that comes from Adobe]. It may be something built into the browser in a non-plugin manner, but I'm not sure.
Firefox was the latest holdout on making this rendition official as part of HTML5, but eventually they gave in
https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2015/05/12/update-on-digital-rights-management-and-firefox/
Terri
I've been out of the music game for a while, however a decade or so ago; the radio stations paid money to performing rights organizations such as BMI and ASCAP. In theory that money goes to the musicians who played on the record and the songwriters.
Do radio stations no longer have to pay for the rights to use these songs?
Go CT!
I live in CT, and in one of the cities that has signed up. I would kill for Gigabyte connection; primarily so I could easily mirror my backup my repository off-site.
I do want to say a few things about Frontier and Cox [the two Internet providers available to me].
I had had DSL for ~15 years. It was SNET DSL, which turned into AT&T DSL, which forced me to upgrade to AT&T UVerse, which then turned into Frontier.
The Frontier conversion was a nightmare; but every time I spoke to someone they were always polite and always tried to help. It seems the systems they were provided were incapable; though. My problem with that conversion was not with Internet, but phone service. Sometimes I forward my home office line to my cell--and that feature would not work.
I switched to COX primarily for faster speeds. All the techs / support people I've worked with have been great. I routinely get download speeds close to double what I'm paying for; and upload speeds are often slightly higher.
When they're were problems--like when my phone service had no voicemail--they fixed them. [Via Twitter after I Sent them a link to a PDF receipt of my sign up confirmation]
I do not have any nightmare customer service stories from either Cox or Frontier. Not a perfect experience, but nothing like what is floating around the Internet.
Re: Browsers and DRM?
If I had to guess--and this is just a guess--they probably use Adobe Flash for older browsers and HTML5 for modern browsers [where supported].
HTML5 Video has a DRM spec; which somehow runs off Adobe software that isn't Flash.
None of this is new
None of this is a new revelation. Here is a video Google put together a while asking people about the difference between a browser and a search engine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MwTvtyrUQ
Microsoft makes use of Open Source
Microsoft has open source aspects to parts of their business. Not everything they do is open source, but not everything they do is closed source. Here is a list of Microsoft Open Source projects:
http://www.microsoft.com/opensource/directory.aspx
One recent, prominent, example is the open sourcing of .NET.
http://venturebeat.com/2014/11/12/microsoft-starts-to-open-source-net-and-take-it-cross-platform-to-mac-linux/
I have no idea if Bill Gates was involved in the decision--I would doubt he was.
As a software developer, I'm not sure if "open access" to research can be compared to "open source" software. They seem two very different concepts.
Many people conflate "open source" with free, however that is not the case. Many common open source software licenses place explicit restrictions and limitations on the use of said source code.
I'm a fan
"If you're not familiar with the show, Supernatural is the ridiculous story of two brothers who ... generally exhibit the acting chops of a two-day-old potato salad."
I'm a fan. I disagree with your description of their acting chops. Sure, it isn't "Breaking Bad" but it also isn't "Friends" or "Law and Order".
Over the years, they have pulled off many different types of shows, from comedy to serious stuff to action. Part of that is definitely the versatility of the actors. Compared to lots of movies in the 'horror' genre; I'd say the acting is downright brilliant.
Re:
Are those fighting words? Queue a John Stewart clip now...