Quote: "Or is that money and effort better spent figuring out how to connect with their fans and giving them reasons, and business models around which, to buy their products?"
I think that piracy exists for a reason, not because people want stuff for free, but because production companies have played their game in the name of arrogance, disrespect and greed, failing to understanding that a fair price, and availability is to show respect for the consumer.
Companies need to ask themselves what comes first, the love of money, or the ambition to make something great that people will like and use.
I would probably suggest that you check this out..
www.autopatcher.net/forum/
The AutoPatcher software is freeware and independently developed. You can download all the latest security patches and updates directly from Microsoft through this software. At least this way You will be in control of the updates you install on your system.. :)
(warning: Wired's ad block blocker still doesn't work properly and may block all users)
Well you can always use firefox, then download Greasemonkey, and install the following user-script.. Anti-Adblock Killer Reek 9.6. Now you can read Wired without ads. This also works with other sites like forbes.com
Regarding complete anonymity, simply don´t use a computer, and don´t use a cell phone, and stay away from public cameras. Oh and wear a tinfoil hat ;)
As far as I remember, when Ed Snowden was interviewd by 60 minutes, he said something about a government program that was able to not only datamine what you type, but HOW you type. The program would be able to recognize or "fingerprint" a user from his/her characteristics/patterns. This way it was possible to profile people. (Please check out the 60 minutes interview with Snowden, I may remember it wrong :/)
In my country we have this ice-cream factory that suddenly in recent time, decided to change it´s brand name from ISIS to EASIS. In danish IS means ice, so ISIS would be something like ice-ice. Now the name EASIS totally ruins the meaning of the brand name. Check out the URL below..
DRM in Games prove to be just an "extra burden" on the CPU/GPU to process. I have seen comparisons of games with and without DRM. It is obvious that DRM is slowing down the game and the framerate under various circumstances.
My guess is that within the next 15 - 20 years we will most likely see Quantum Computing become mainstream. At that time it will be possible for someone at a University to crack even the strongest encryption. I think it´s only a question of time.
The damage that the NSA and GCHQ has done to citizens and various companies around the world with their hacks, is far more serious for global security than what happend to Sony.. For some reason that seems to be forgotten.. It's ok for the US to do the hacking around the world, but if someone tries to do the same to the US, then all hell breaks loose.. Don't get it :/
Braben and Co actually offers a free download of their old ELITE game once you are logged in.
That said I find the game to be EXTREMELY expensive. They constantly come up with little "Upgrade Offers" that will cost you extra (as if you haven't already payed enough for the beta version).
Also a single paintjob for your spaceship costs an additional £10 each. (There are about 8-10 paintjobs available). So how much do you actually end up paying for this game including all the "hidden" additional extras ?
Also at the time of writing this, you can only download a small size Client-installer, not the full game, and they don't offer any way to backup the game at all.
The ingame simulation though, seems to be stunningly awesome, but it's impossible to say if it's worth the £100 (+extras) pricetag.
FarCry 4 is basically just another copy of FarCry 3, even the character animations including the soundFX are the same as FC3. The RadioTowers are back in a slightly modified version, and ofcourse there are some nice additions to the game. But all in all it's definately not worth the 90 Euro for the 'complete game'. It is obvious that Ubisoft had more focus on making easy money, than on creating something really new and groundbreaking. 90 Euros for FC4 is far more than other AAA titles, and it's half the quality. Which is worse, screwing with paying customers, or dealing with piracy. Shame on you Ubisoft.
“It’s not a surveillance program, it’s a data-collection program,”
Data-collection programs that can search, find matches and positively identify specific patterns in a text/context or a persons behavior will ALWAYS be surveillance.
Patterns to look for could include timing and/or specific characters used in a certain way that are unique for an individual. Datamining will over time (if collated with previously gathered data) be able to identify character and determine targeted individuals psychological profiles. Something like searching for the LIX number in a context, can also tell if a person has a higher education or not.
The NSA/USG will be interested in collecting all the data they can get access to, using whatever means to do that. 'They' will most likely target all software that is widely distributed. Like Microsoft Windows, Linux, Adobe and so on, that will also need regular updates. All Cloud-based software will ofcourse also be a target.
Bruce Schneier points out that we need more encryption to at least make it more difficult for the NSA to do their snooping.
This is the worst kind of indoctrinated brainwash I have ever heard. What a disappointment it must be to work at a place, where your employer tries to manipulate you like this.
Connecting with fans..
I think that piracy exists for a reason, not because people want stuff for free, but because production companies have played their game in the name of arrogance, disrespect and greed, failing to understanding that a fair price, and availability is to show respect for the consumer.
Companies need to ask themselves what comes first, the love of money, or the ambition to make something great that people will like and use.
Re: Coming to Windows 7 in Oct
www.autopatcher.net/forum/
The AutoPatcher software is freeware and independently developed. You can download all the latest security patches and updates directly from Microsoft through this software. At least this way You will be in control of the updates you install on your system.. :)
(untitled comment)
Well you can always use firefox, then download Greasemonkey, and install the following user-script.. Anti-Adblock Killer Reek 9.6. Now you can read Wired without ads. This also works with other sites like forbes.com
Regarding complete anonymity, simply don´t use a computer, and don´t use a cell phone, and stay away from public cameras. Oh and wear a tinfoil hat ;)
Snowden 60 minutes interview
ISIS to EASIS
In my country we have this ice-cream factory that suddenly in recent time, decided to change it´s brand name from ISIS to EASIS. In danish IS means ice, so ISIS would be something like ice-ice. Now the name EASIS totally ruins the meaning of the brand name. Check out the URL below..
http://www.easis.dk/is-og-yoghurt/?gclid=COq9lqzCn8wCFWoz0wod-fcFSg
DRM in Games
Censorship galore
Vintage "sculptporn" anno 1913, those were the days.
Even on the danish wikipedia the little mermaid image has been censored because of copyright.
https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Den_lille_Havfrue
A question of time..
Disposable E-mail
https://www.guerrillamail.com
If you use Firefox I recommend these addons..
BetterPrivacy
PrivacyBadger
AdBlock Plus or AdBlock Edge
Personally I would never trust anyone remotely to protect or store my creditcard details, but hey that's just me :)
Re: Proverb
Not surprised..
Hypocrisy..
Re: Figures...
Braben and Co actually offers a free download of their old ELITE game once you are logged in.
That said I find the game to be EXTREMELY expensive. They constantly come up with little "Upgrade Offers" that will cost you extra (as if you haven't already payed enough for the beta version).
Also a single paintjob for your spaceship costs an additional £10 each. (There are about 8-10 paintjobs available). So how much do you actually end up paying for this game including all the "hidden" additional extras ?
Also at the time of writing this, you can only download a small size Client-installer, not the full game, and they don't offer any way to backup the game at all.
The ingame simulation though, seems to be stunningly awesome, but it's impossible to say if it's worth the £100 (+extras) pricetag.
(untitled comment)
Bummer..
Re: faces
Datamining
Data-collection programs that can search, find matches and positively identify specific patterns in a text/context or a persons behavior will ALWAYS be surveillance.
Patterns to look for could include timing and/or specific characters used in a certain way that are unique for an individual. Datamining will over time (if collated with previously gathered data) be able to identify character and determine targeted individuals psychological profiles. Something like searching for the LIX number in a context, can also tell if a person has a higher education or not.
(untitled comment)
Re: Windows
Bruce Schneier points out that we need more encryption to at least make it more difficult for the NSA to do their snooping.
Disappointed..
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