New Media Mike

Open Source != Free Software

2005-11-29T19:48:00.000-05:00

Open source does not mean free of cost. Free Software does not mean it is without cost.

This is a fairly common misconception regarding the Open Source/GPL communities. They are two seperate entities although work towards a common goal. Both believe that software and its development should be placed into a collaborative format. But Open Source can turn into a liscensed product whereas Freeware must remain free (as in freedoms).

Here is a better explanation of the two.

The Ultimate Open Source Work-around

2005-11-26T21:10:00.000-05:00

It seems that open source and the whole philosophy of a free community or collaborative developing is not that accesible to the masses.

Developers that are adimant about keeping software free have a clever knack of making it work for themselves. Unfortunately, the masses do not posses the ability to create or even install this often-times test based OS. End result - Microsoft continues to make the masses pay and pay.

Here is a link to a news story of a developer working to break out of this norm - it is not free!

read on

Cyber Monday

2005-11-25T09:36:00.000-05:00

Looks like Black Friday (the day when retailers tend to make it out of the red and the financial black) is not the only true indicator of the upcoming holiday season. It seems that a new day called Cyber Monday is making its way through 10base T connections all around the globe.

Monday following Thanksgiving is a day where many people will log on (often times at work) to make their holiday purchase without fighting long lines and crowded parkinglots. Hey, it looks like this internet thing is really catching on!

read all about Cyber Monday

Lose 200 Pounds in One Day!

2005-10-31T19:42:00.000-05:00

I think the film industry and production of today's block busters is amazing. New technologies are enabling the impossible to become possible... and to seem real. In only five years, special effects and 100% animated flix has made a huge dent in the marquees of today's film houses.

Computer generated human movement and cg acting is still a bit of a stretch. We are now at a point where facial gestures actually mimic the actor behind the voice. I think Dragon Heart was one of the more notable movies where Sean Connery's facial expressions were recreated in the dragons movements. Even without the audio, you could almost see Connery's rugged personality.

Soon, there will be no need for actors. Movie fans will be able follow the career of cg actors with synthesized voices. Imagine a movie where an actor gains or loses hundreds of pounds throughout a movie. With a few Mel scripting keystrokes, pounds can fall off. Super heroes can become more super, stunts more dazzling... Who needs the actor unions?

And I Never Even Tried SPAM

2005-10-17T19:59:00.000-04:00

I am bummed. I just received two spam comments in my Blog. Is there any place on the net that is safe from cheesey spammers? Don't bother replying with an answer, I shut my comments ability off.

Spam is my kryptonite - Spam sucks.

Surgery from your living room

2005-10-16T22:23:00.000-04:00

Could it be possible that all that video game playing that your children are doing is actually paying off?

Doctors are now able to perform complex surgical procedures from distant lands. This is a huge break-through in modern medicine. Having the ability to operate from not only outside the OR but also outside the hospital is indispensable. Not only will it reduce infection by not having people in the operating rooms, but will also allow patients the ability to have the worlds best surgeons located around the globe the privilege to work on anyone.

So, let your eight year old play one more round of Madden's latest. Heck, it could pay off in the future.

Read the article

Taking small sturdy steps

2005-10-02T08:26:00.000-04:00

AI (artificail intellingence) is many years off. For a machine to think as a human is incredibly difficult to imagine. But this is not stopping engineers and futurist in taking steps of developing a living and learning machine to mimic human life.

Taking literal steps, French engineers hae come up with >Rabbit. I see this as a a great stride forward (pardon the pun) to helping individuals in the need for artificial limb support as the next generation prosthetic. Yes, this is steps toward the AI future, but not in my lifetime will we see human-like robots peel themselves off the Steven Speilberg big screen and into real life.

Not-so-world-wide-web

2005-10-02T08:03:00.000-04:00

Interesting that I sit here in my New England home typing a new blog post that will soon be instantly published for the world to see. It is a very powerful thing to be able to have a world-wide voice. I am not really sure if I have a powerful message to convey, but, if I did... I could let loose.

It is ironic that this awesome power is not appreciated by the entire globe. Even though the majority of the world's web surfers can read this, a select few countries ban the entry of blogs into thier country, while others limit certain political subject matter and inappropriate material.

A Washinton Post article wrote "China's success at censorship is even more remarkable to researchers because the country is promoting economic growth using technology. An estimated 100 million Chinese use the Internet, nearly half of whom who have high-speed connections." Here, is where the irony continues. A country running the most advanced firewalls and keyword catching software is handcuffing its citizens to the content they may really want.

The Mac Mini Making Not-S0-Mini Waves

2005-09-01T20:45:00.000-04:00

Apple's tiny, power-packed Mac Mini has openend up a whole new way of using these minature personal computers. With the introduction of the Mini, a select inovative group of Mac Mini consumers and overall Mac fans are thinking outside of the cramped box and integrating them into the smaller confines of thier vehicles.

Imagine a full color lcd screen quickly toggling between your GPS Navigation system to your extensive list of Mp3 files to Finding Nemo. Back into tight spots with the help of a rear bumper mounted video camera that displays right on the dashboard of your compact car. Man, you can do so much!

This inventive niche group has created a community all its own. Blazing the way through these uncharted installs is MacVroom. Here you will be inspired by the many well documented installs and informative articles encompassing the world of Mini installs.

Heck, when international and domestic mainstream magazines are reviewing and endorsing this site, it is no wonder it has become the virtual community and ultimate go-to source for all your car computing needs.

The Big Notebook of E-Media @ QU

2005-08-28T21:34:00.000-04:00

So, this is my very first post to my new blog. The set-up was too easy!

Let's hope I find time to continue to post such riveting post as this initial offering.