I'm sure it's happened before, but it isn't that usual for a beta testing period to decrease demand, unless the product is a steaming pile of dog business. A beta testing period getting as much positive feedback as this is usually a good sign, and usually increases demand, rather than the opposite.
Reading the link Chronno provided, it does seem to be a beta testing limitation. From what the article implies, Google sent out invites to selected people to be beta testers. Then, those people were asked to add people to their accounts, thus increasing the number of beta testers, and creating networks. It was this demand that was unexpected - which also sounds like the original invitees were impressed.
I also love my iGoolge page. For the first time I'm interested (and maybe a little excited) about any form of Google social media.
I really like the circle options, from what I've heard. Not many of my friends share ALL of my interests, and to be able to converse with a subset is something I've wanted from facebook for a long while.
When they do open it completely to the public, I'm at least interested enough to sign up and play around with it for a while.
>> "You're an ass. Chose your words more carefully. I wish you a horrible death."
Great example of irony! Well done Sir. I hope you won't be too disappointed when I wish you a long and happy life, even though I disagree with your statements?
It's a solid move. It's not so much not walking the walk as protecting their ability to advocate for others. Having cases brought against them as the subject of a lawsuit seriously undermines their legitimacy. Think about it - when looking for lawyers, do you choose the one who you feel confident can speak for you, or the one who is defending himself against allegations? Which one would you most be able to trust? To be an effective advocate, they need to present as legitimate, and lawsuits undermine that, whether baseless or not.
>>"I do wonder why the EFF didn't consider this originally and simply not use Bitcoin in the first place."
Lol. I guess everyone can be blindsided from time to time. You can't see everything coming.
You're right, the ICE seizures were very effective. I'd never heard of many of the sites they seized before, now I have. I even visited some of the sites once they'd come back online (not a long wait). Not to mention the creation of MAFIAAFire and the subsequent attention it got.
ICE's domain seizures have been a very successful advertising campaign.
And, sorry to say, not 15, and not living in a basement.
Firstly, a tourism ad brings tourists and their money into NYC. That money is spent locally, as you stated, and goes to an assortment of local industry - hospitality, retail, etc. There is a direct benefit to the City and its economy as a whole. The same can't be said of NBC/U. While they may have some business in NYC, and through that assist some other industies, the bulk of their business, and target markets, are outside of NYC and have no direct bearing on the City or its economy.
Secondly, you are conflating the industry economy with a singular entity's finances. One company's rise or fall may have some impact on the industry's, or NYC's, overall economy, but more likely someone else would rise to fill the void. Supporting one company at the expense of others does little to assist NYC's economy.
I'll freely admit that economics is not my forte, but I'm sure others here can go into more detail, or correct me if I'm wrong.
Finally, you are basing that entire comment on the assumption that piracy has a negative net effect on the industry (as opposed to NBC/U). That is an issue that is highly debatable, and has been furiously debated with compelling arguments on both sides. There is no debate as to whether tourism is advantageous for any city, NYC or elsewhere. There is considerably more questions as to the effect that piracy has, and I find it difficult to believe that it would dramatically affect NYC's overall economy. It does, however, affect NBC/U's finances.
Who wrote it is still going to affect the context of the message, even if you claim it. A speech on racism and ethnicity written by Nelson Mandela is going to be vastly different to one written by Adolf Hitler, regardless of who's name it is published under.
You can obfuscate all you want about the ownership of the message, it is the context and intent of the message that is relevant here.
NBC/U will create a message that suits their corporate strategy and reinforces their commercial and political advantages. Who's name is on the byline is irrelevant to this. Where it is relevant, is where that message is being taken by the third party to represent the good of the people, without acknowledging that it was written for the good of the corporation that wrote the original message.
I have a Samsung Omnia. Nice phone, unfortunately hampered by the fact that I have a Windows OS (not a huge fan, so far). My brother has the Sony Experia, and I have used Eriksons in the past, but not smartphones. Unfortunately, I think Erikson make far better phones. Shame about them being owned by Sony, because I'm avoiding Sony like the plague.
If Samsung are willing to put in the work, like it seems they are doing with their new range, and are willing to take opportunities like this, then that situation will change soon.
I also think that Samsung's move here is a big poke in the eye to Apple. They've basically said "if we have to hand over our phones early anyway, we'll do it our way and benefit from it." Given Apple's notoriously closed system, there is no way Apple will do the same.
Not to mention that when you invest your ego into something like that you a) become an unmitigated ass, and b) are setting yourself up for a huge crash when the trends shift, which they inevitably do. Convincing yourself of something that is based entirely on perspective rather than reality doesn't usually end well.
Re: Re: Where is the quality here Mike ????????????? All Gone !!!
I've come to the conclusion that, for some, reading Techdirt is like having an abscessed tooth. You know it's going to hurt, but the compulsion to poke it is simply overwhelming.
Anyway, let's take a moment to congratulate Mike. Whereas he thought he was simply running a blog on contemparary issues of many things techy, little did he know that he was also providing a much needed outlet for the built up rage and frustration that daily life can bring down upon us.
Where else can one unleash such an emotionally raw and unbridled cry, free from the hidebound rules of both logic and grammar? Where else can one unfetter the pent up stress of everyday living and wail and gnash one's teeth without the inconvenience of eternal damnation?
Celebrate the Techdirt trolls of the world, who blithely and freely loose their more visceral and purulent emotive howls with complete disregard to discourse, and honour Mike for his steadfastness and generosity in providing an unrestricted forum for their enjoyment and gratification!
Firstly, let me say that I am not American, so really couldn't care less if your views are patriotic or not! This, for me, takes out one factor of the argument - nationality. Rather, think globally. This is an issue that concerns everyone, not just America, even though the source individuals/corporations are in the USA.
Secondly, you are arguing from a position of problem resolution. If you are viewing it as a problem that needs to be resolved as quickly, quietly and efficiently as possible, then you are correct. Mozilla's actions were extremely questionable if this was the goal.
Problem resolution, however, was NOT Mozilla's goal in this case. Many, Mozilla and MAFIAAfire included, consider what the DHS has been doing as censorship. The sole reason for making this app, as stated by the creator of the MADIAAfire app, was to protest this act of censorship. Mozilla, as a company with a firm belief in open source software, and the ideals on which it is built, is echoing and supporting that protest, as well as making one of it's own.
Your arguments are 100% correct if Mozilla's response was aimed at resolving it's issue with the DHS demand. It is not. It is a public protest, straight up. It isn't meant to resolve, it is meant to question, probe, and well.. protest the DHS's actions. An anti-war rally is not meant to resolve a smaller issue, but to protest a larger one. This is Mozilla's anti-war cry.
Me too. Not because I really visit those sites much (although one of them I did), but because I really loved what the guy said about taking a stand against censorship. I'm fully behind him on that.
I'm so proud of Mozilla - this is the response I was hoping for, but not really expecting. The questions they posited were acute, pertinent, and showed a very in-depth understanding of the on-going situation.
I agree with what some others have said - Mozilla is already my default browser, but it's definitely time to hit the 'donate' button.
I agree completely with what you say about music, but I'd like to highlight the danger of using a hard and fast rule for expression v meaning in any genre.
Let's use literature, in which you say one expression only has one meaning:
a) Woman without her man, is nothing.
b) Woman: without her, man is nothing.
Same words, or string of letters composing an idea, however completely different meaning.
Another example:
a) He didn't marry her because she was rich.
b) He didn't marry her, because she was rich.
Even in literature, the same foundation letters can be used to create expression that encapsulates a different idea, even if the basic 'notes' are the same.
Completely unrelated, I had the pleasure of being in (lead singer of Men at Work) Colin Hay's audience the first time he performed that song after the ruling. He got a standing ovation, and rightly so. I've not seen anyone applaud Larrakin. Just because the court agrees with you, still doesn't mean the general population (read: market) will.
I actually agree with you, that intent shouldn't be a consideration in art. But if it is to be, the underlying premise for intent in both homicide and copyright should be the intent to cause harm. While his art is questionable, I don't think they've any reason to believe his intent was to cause harm.
Equitable coverage of an issue is something that has been sadly lacking in Australian media to date. The closest they usually come to covering both sides of a contentious issue is in politics, and that is most often the paper or journalist slanting to one side or the other, rather than an unbiased coverage.
Just the fact that they have regurgitated the opposing side of an issue is remarkable.
On the post: Can Google+ Succeed Merely By Being Not Facebook?
Re:
On the post: Can Google+ Succeed Merely By Being Not Facebook?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
On the post: Can Google+ Succeed Merely By Being Not Facebook?
Re: Re:
I really like the circle options, from what I've heard. Not many of my friends share ALL of my interests, and to be able to converse with a subset is something I've wanted from facebook for a long while.
When they do open it completely to the public, I'm at least interested enough to sign up and play around with it for a while.
On the post: Facebook, Roger Ebert And The Pointlessness Of The Jerk Patrol
Re: Re: Re:
Great example of irony! Well done Sir. I hope you won't be too disappointed when I wish you a long and happy life, even though I disagree with your statements?
On the post: Peanuts Rights Holder Shuts Down Peanutweeter, Pisses Off Fans For No Reason At All
Re: Phew
On the post: EFF Drops Bitcoin Over Concerns About Legality
Re: Meh.
>>"I do wonder why the EFF didn't consider this originally and simply not use Bitcoin in the first place."
Lol. I guess everyone can be blindsided from time to time. You can't see everything coming.
On the post: Is Pretending Your Domain Name Has Been Seized By ICE The New Rickroll?
Re: Re: Re: Re:
ICE's domain seizures have been a very successful advertising campaign.
And, sorry to say, not 15, and not living in a basement.
On the post: Funniest/Most Insightful Comments Of The Week At Techdirt
Re: Re: its like smoking pot
On the post: Why Is The Federal Government Running Ads Secretly Created & Owned By NBC Universal?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Secondly, you are conflating the industry economy with a singular entity's finances. One company's rise or fall may have some impact on the industry's, or NYC's, overall economy, but more likely someone else would rise to fill the void. Supporting one company at the expense of others does little to assist NYC's economy.
I'll freely admit that economics is not my forte, but I'm sure others here can go into more detail, or correct me if I'm wrong.
Finally, you are basing that entire comment on the assumption that piracy has a negative net effect on the industry (as opposed to NBC/U). That is an issue that is highly debatable, and has been furiously debated with compelling arguments on both sides. There is no debate as to whether tourism is advantageous for any city, NYC or elsewhere. There is considerably more questions as to the effect that piracy has, and I find it difficult to believe that it would dramatically affect NYC's overall economy. It does, however, affect NBC/U's finances.
On the post: Why Is The Federal Government Running Ads Secretly Created & Owned By NBC Universal?
Re: Re: Re:
You can obfuscate all you want about the ownership of the message, it is the context and intent of the message that is relevant here.
NBC/U will create a message that suits their corporate strategy and reinforces their commercial and political advantages. Who's name is on the byline is irrelevant to this. Where it is relevant, is where that message is being taken by the third party to represent the good of the people, without acknowledging that it was written for the good of the corporation that wrote the original message.
On the post: While Sony Sues Modders, Samsung Sends Them Devices To Mod Faster
Re:
If Samsung are willing to put in the work, like it seems they are doing with their new range, and are willing to take opportunities like this, then that situation will change soon.
I also think that Samsung's move here is a big poke in the eye to Apple. They've basically said "if we have to hand over our phones early anyway, we'll do it our way and benefit from it." Given Apple's notoriously closed system, there is no way Apple will do the same.
On the post: Is Influence A Number... And Is It Based On Twitter?
Ego
On the post: Access Copyright Claims Trademark On The Copyright Symbol
Define irony
On the post: Groupon... And The Difference Between Idea & Execution
Re: Re: Where is the quality here Mike ????????????? All Gone !!!
Anyway, let's take a moment to congratulate Mike. Whereas he thought he was simply running a blog on contemparary issues of many things techy, little did he know that he was also providing a much needed outlet for the built up rage and frustration that daily life can bring down upon us.
Where else can one unleash such an emotionally raw and unbridled cry, free from the hidebound rules of both logic and grammar? Where else can one unfetter the pent up stress of everyday living and wail and gnash one's teeth without the inconvenience of eternal damnation?
Celebrate the Techdirt trolls of the world, who blithely and freely loose their more visceral and purulent emotive howls with complete disregard to discourse, and honour Mike for his steadfastness and generosity in providing an unrestricted forum for their enjoyment and gratification!
On the post: Homeland Security Demands Mozilla Remove Firefox Extension That Redirects Seized Domains
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Firstly, let me say that I am not American, so really couldn't care less if your views are patriotic or not! This, for me, takes out one factor of the argument - nationality. Rather, think globally. This is an issue that concerns everyone, not just America, even though the source individuals/corporations are in the USA.
Secondly, you are arguing from a position of problem resolution. If you are viewing it as a problem that needs to be resolved as quickly, quietly and efficiently as possible, then you are correct. Mozilla's actions were extremely questionable if this was the goal.
Problem resolution, however, was NOT Mozilla's goal in this case. Many, Mozilla and MAFIAAfire included, consider what the DHS has been doing as censorship. The sole reason for making this app, as stated by the creator of the MADIAAfire app, was to protest this act of censorship. Mozilla, as a company with a firm belief in open source software, and the ideals on which it is built, is echoing and supporting that protest, as well as making one of it's own.
Your arguments are 100% correct if Mozilla's response was aimed at resolving it's issue with the DHS demand. It is not. It is a public protest, straight up. It isn't meant to resolve, it is meant to question, probe, and well.. protest the DHS's actions. An anti-war rally is not meant to resolve a smaller issue, but to protest a larger one. This is Mozilla's anti-war cry.
On the post: Homeland Security Demands Mozilla Remove Firefox Extension That Redirects Seized Domains
Re:
On the post: Homeland Security Demands Mozilla Remove Firefox Extension That Redirects Seized Domains
Re:
I'm so proud of Mozilla - this is the response I was hoping for, but not really expecting. The questions they posited were acute, pertinent, and showed a very in-depth understanding of the on-going situation.
I agree with what some others have said - Mozilla is already my default browser, but it's definitely time to hit the 'donate' button.
On the post: Appeals Court Still Says 'Down Under' Infringes On Decades Old Folk Song
Re:
Let's use literature, in which you say one expression only has one meaning:
a) Woman without her man, is nothing.
b) Woman: without her, man is nothing.
Same words, or string of letters composing an idea, however completely different meaning.
Another example:
a) He didn't marry her because she was rich.
b) He didn't marry her, because she was rich.
Even in literature, the same foundation letters can be used to create expression that encapsulates a different idea, even if the basic 'notes' are the same.
Completely unrelated, I had the pleasure of being in (lead singer of Men at Work) Colin Hay's audience the first time he performed that song after the ruling. He got a standing ovation, and rightly so. I've not seen anyone applaud Larrakin. Just because the court agrees with you, still doesn't mean the general population (read: market) will.
On the post: Do We Really Want Judges Determining What Art 'Says'?
Re: Re:
Also:
http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Officer-Invovled-Shooting-114431389.html
I actually agree with you, that intent shouldn't be a consideration in art. But if it is to be, the underlying premise for intent in both homicide and copyright should be the intent to cause harm. While his art is questionable, I don't think they've any reason to believe his intent was to cause harm.
On the post: Some In The Press Realizing That Copyright Industry Claims Of 'Losses' From 'Piracy' Are Bunk
Re:
Just the fact that they have regurgitated the opposing side of an issue is remarkable.
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