Categories
Technology

Doc Searls on OS X

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

Doc Searls:

OS X must be a hit, because there’s a sudden backlash against it. Today Dan pointed to a couple pieces — one by Henry Norr in the Chronicle and the other by Andrew Orlowski in the Register — that both bitch-slap the UI pretty damn hard.

That’s going to keep me chuckling all day.

P.S. You tell em Doc. I think OS X is one of the most innovative products to roll down any software ramp in a long time. I wasn’t a Mac user until OS X (well, the Titanium PB helped — that sexy little thing).

Categories
Just Shelley

Old Sci-Fi

Watching movies tonight as a way to stay awake while I work. I have a deadline Monday and I can’t miss it. Then two others follow closely behind it. Looks like I need to spend less time weblogging, more time on the books. Not to mention I have a ton of corporate tax filings I need to make for year end.

Blub. Blub. Help me! Help me! I’m going down for the third time…ack…gurgle.

Quick break: I bought War of the Worlds on DVD. Yes, my secret vice is that I love old time sci-fi flicks, cheesy special effects and all. War of the World, When Worlds Collide, Them, The Thing, The Day the Earth Stood Still — what’s not to like/love? Even old Plan 9 from Outerspace has a camp quality because it’s so bad (not as bad as the War Bus, but bad).

War of the Worlds had incredible special effects for the time — and it made the transition to DVD nicely. Both movie color and sound were improved.

Remember the old sci-fi flicks? They usually had to add something about religion in order to keep the religious fanatics from boycotting them. When Worlds Collide had a nod to the religious at the end, and War of the Worlds absolutely dripped religion. Folks today can learn from this — the hicks wouldn’t burn Harry Potter books if Rowling just had Harry go to church on Sundays.

(We who are all in the wrong must bow and defer to those few who just know they are in the right.)

When are they going to make Them and The Thing on DVD? I know they’re B & W, but can you imagine the ant call on Dolby?

Categories
Legal, Laws, and Regs RDF

More on the RDF/RSS Patent fooflah

Recovered from the Wayback Machine.

In case everyone’s confused with my postings about the patent issue, I want to go on record by saying that I’m strongly in favor of RDF. There. I know you were all really worried about that one. Okay now, stop worrying, go back to work.

-earlier-

Jeff Barr of Syndic8 was also a recipient of one of the infamous patent letters. He created a PatentWiki that duplicates the letter he received as well as providing other related information.

It just burns me to see people like Jeff — people who freely, openly, willingly, and gladly contribute to our technological growth –bothered with this type of legal manipulation.

More later — I’m too pissed to communicate now. Not without getting sued.

-earlier-

Dave Winer just came “out” with the information that Userland rec’d one of the patent letters.

Not surprising considering the other recipients.

-earlier-

I had a chance to read the RDF Patent letter; it’s definitely a fishing expedition. Hopefully, none of the recipients of the letter are responding to it. From what I can read, that’s exactly what the law firm is most likely looking for – responses. If I get permission, I’ll post a link to the letter here.

Personally, I’d like the ACLU to get involved in this. After all, what’s a better example of freedom of speech than open source and open standards/specifications? And what threatens said free speech more than the massive loopholes within the Patent system. Think about it.