403 karma · joined November 2, 2011
You're also assuming that everyone who uses a computer knows how to modify it and not break it. Understand that a lot of Apple users want a device that just works. They don't want to have to mess around with the operating system or type a lot of intimidating commands into a terminal just to change something. They want to go on Facebook, play some games, listen to music, or type term papers. DRM does nothing but prevent things from "just working." It locks down where you can watch DVDs, how you can watch them, how you can use things, and can even lock you out of something if there's a problem on the developer's end (example: Assassin's Creed 2 included a DRM that needed an internet connection whenever you played the game, so if Ubisoft's servers went down or you don't have access to Internet, you can't play the game). To say that DRM is for the user's benefit and totally not for the developer's is insane.
Comparing the MPAA's restrictions with Apple is a bit unfair, and their success is only due to almost a complete monopoly in that area. The MPAA executives look at their audience with dollar signs in their eyes. Apple looks at them with those same dollar signs, but also with care and pride for the products they push out. They want to get a good product out. They adopted new business models like iTunes, iCloud, and even Siri. The MPAA is the antithesis of innovation and doesn't care about the products it pushes out, it just wants money.
Sorry for the long rant, but I needed to do it.
These bills (SOPA and PIPA) are broken and are unfixable. The only way to "fix" them is to scrap them and rewrite them.
He also implies that PIPA will generate jobs in the industries most troubled by piracy, and again I have to disagree. The problem is with these companies pushing outdated, annoying business models instead of embracing the hundreds of amazing startups trying to fix the problems these companies have. Jobs won't be created by passing these bills. That's just the sugarcoating that the lobbyists use to make the bills look feasible to the Senate.
And I agree fully, creators deserve compensation for their work. As an entrepeneur, I know the feeling of getting something in return for creating. But these bills will open Pandora's box and unleash all hell on the Internet and American citizens. No more fixing. Kill these bills once and for all.
So by your definition, Dropbox is an illegitimate business because I stuck my (purchased) copy of The Dark Knight on there and they didn't remove it?
I used MegaUpload. A LOT. For legitimate content. It's very useful because I don't have to worry about hosting it on my own server and potentially going over my bandwidth cap (I send RAR files with large images for graphic design, totally legitimate need for MU).
Didn't Viacom claim something similar?
I agree that the UI needs to be more streamlined. The "Add Reminder" screen is iffy to use. Other than that, great idea for an app!
I think Conde Nast did a good job as well in not fucking it up for the site. They let the owners do their own thing and let the site grow (an action I really wish other large companies would take when acquiring startups) instead of forcing them to put annoying ads all over or other stupid things.
However, I wish reddit would make it easier for users to find features and generally understand the site. I'm still finding useful features that have been hidden in the software.
I thank the reddit staff for their amazing work and hope that they keep it up. :)
My website: http://www.arcfeed.com (still in development)
My LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamandrus
I'm strong in PHP, Javascript, HTML(5), CSS(3), MySQL, some Python, some Obj-C, Node.js, and Perl.
Contact if interested: [my hacker news username]@me.com.
... that's exactly what we're doing. What, do you think we're firebombing GoDaddy's headquarters and killing its executives?
Because, you know, nobody programs in languages like Java or Python anymore, am I right? /sarcasm
> If you are complaining about particular SDKs offered by Facebook, you aren't complaining about "The Facebook Platform", you're just complaining.
Wait, what? Those SDKs are a part of the Facebook platform... we kinda need them to integrate FB into our apps.