Singapore National Day Celebrations only for Microsoft Viewers?
High Plains Thumper
Microsoft has on the Internet. Public viewing should not be tied
to a particular proprietary operating system and browser.
http://harishpillay.livejournal.com/60606.html
[quote]
harishpillay (harishpillay) wrote, @ 2007-08-05 23:36:00
NDP online viewing only for Windows users?
[This is sent to STForum <stf...@sph.com.sg>]
Dear Editor -
I am baffled as to why it is that those of us who want to view
the 42nd National Day celebrations online have to have Microsoft
Windows to do so?
I was trying to view
http://www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm/livecelebration/ and it says:
"1. You may need to install ActiveX* components for viewing the
"Live Celebrations" if prompted.
* ActiveX is built on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM),
and is used primarily to develop interactive content for the
World Wide Web.
2. The live coverage is best viewed using Internet Explorer"
I run Firefox and use Linux exclusively. When there are plenty of
totally cross platform, free and open streaming video
technologies, like for example Theora (www.theora.org), it seems
that the technology decision makers decided on a closed,
platform-restricted and proprietary format as the way forward.
[/quote]
--
HPT
Roy Schestowitz
This type of stupidity won't fly for much longer.
http://sg.hardwarezone.com/priceguide/newsview.php?id=2170
--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz | Y |-(1^2)|^(1/2)+1 K
http://Schestowitz.com | RHAT Linux | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
08:20:02 up 50 days, 13:48, 6 users, load average: 1.21, 1.16, 1.28
http://iuron.com - Open Source knowledge engine project
Roy Schestowitz
Update: the URL is now broken. It was intended to show you that Linux-loaded
PCs are now sold in Singapore (and are available from large vendors).
I have come across quite a bit of news from Singapore recently. I suspect that
a poor vision of Vista leads many people to looking at alternatives. Actually,
studies have already shown this. A PCWorld article that keeps getting
republished (even 2 days ago) covers one such study which says that 86% (?) of
all businesses won't 'upgrade' to Vista. Instead, they look at alternative
operating systems.
--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz | GPL'd Reversi: http://othellomaster.com
http://Schestowitz.com | RHAT GNU/Linux | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
run-level 2 2007-06-16 18:32 last=
http://iuron.com - help build a non-profit search engine
Tim Smith
High Plains Thumper <highplai...@invalid.invalid> quoted:
> I am baffled as to why it is that those of us who want to view
> the 42nd National Day celebrations online have to have Microsoft
> Windows to do so?
>
> I was trying to view
> http://www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm/livecelebration/ and it says:
It doesn't require Microsoft Windows. It works fine on Macs.
--
--Tim Smith
Hadron
Works fine in Ubuntu feisty using Firefox too.
I guess High Plains Rafael ought to go back to Windows if he is too
stupid to configure his Linux properly.......
The Ghost In The Machine
<highplai...@invalid.invalid>
wrote
on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:48:16 +0900
<46b69a10$0$11217$6e1e...@read.cnntp.org>:
> Following was sent recently and describes the strangehold
> Microsoft has on the Internet. Public viewing should not be tied
> to a particular proprietary operating system and browser.
>
> http://harishpillay.livejournal.com/60606.html
>
> [quote]
> harishpillay (harishpillay) wrote, @ 2007-08-05 23:36:00
> NDP online viewing only for Windows users?
> [This is sent to STForum <stf...@sph.com.sg>]
>
> Dear Editor -
>
> I am baffled as to why it is that those of us who want to view
> the 42nd National Day celebrations online have to have Microsoft
> Windows to do so?
>
> I was trying to view
> http://www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm/livecelebration/ and it says:
>
> "1. You may need to install ActiveX* components for viewing the
> "Live Celebrations" if prompted.
> * ActiveX is built on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM),
> and is used primarily to develop interactive content for the
> World Wide Web.
I'm not having any particular difficulty here. I'll admit
I've no idea as to exactly what I'm looking at; it looks
like a Steven Spielberg-esque spacecraft hovering over a
bunch of stadium seats. :-)
(No doubt the "spacecraft" is just luxury and/or press
boxes. But that's what it looks like to me. Maybe I've
been reading sci-fi for way too long...)
Part of it might simply be that Linux/x86 can run Microsoft
codecs.
>
> 2. The live coverage is best viewed using Internet Explorer"
>
> I run Firefox and use Linux exclusively. When there are plenty of
> totally cross platform, free and open streaming video
> technologies, like for example Theora (www.theora.org), it seems
> that the technology decision makers decided on a closed,
> platform-restricted and proprietary format as the way forward.
> [/quote]
>
Well, I for one would prefer open standards, but there's
a lot of programming talent out there to reverse-engineer
proprietary ones, if necessary. (One wishes it weren't.)
Consider:
- NTLM -- someone's cracked it.
- CIFS/SMB -- someone's cracked it. Twice.
- NTFS -- cracked for reading; not sure about writing,
though 2.6 seems to have gotten rid of the "EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS" tag in the configs therefor.
- Microsoft TrueType fonts -- cracked.
- Microsoft "DOC" formats -- cracked and generated,
probably multiple times. (This includes Excel and
Powerpoint.)
- Windows -- to some extent, cracked, in the sense that
WinE is thriving and continuing to implement
functionality.
- ODBC -- Not sure if this was cracked or simply given
away, but there's an option to read ODBC databases
in Office.
- Codecs -- cracked, at least for x86-ia32 platforms.
- C# -- This one's muddy, but certainly the Mono project
is a partial implementation of Microsoft's
specifications. A lot of rough edges in monodevelop,
(a number of them in comparison to Eclipse :-) )
but it's usable.
- Silverlight -- unknown, but will probably have a Linux
implementation.
- "OpenXML" -- we'll see.
Granted, "cracked" in this context does not mean
"compromised", except in the sense that Microsoft can't
lock vendors into these formats (since OpenOffice et al
can at least read them).
--
#191, ewi...@earthlink.net
Q: "Why is my computer doing that?"
A: "Don't do that and you'll be fine."
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
High Plains Thumper
>
> I have come across quite a bit of news from Singapore
> recently. I suspect that a poor vision of Vista leads many
> people to looking at alternatives. Actually, studies have
> already shown this. A PCWorld article that keeps getting
> republished (even 2 days ago) covers one such study which says
> that 86% (?) of all businesses won't 'upgrade' to Vista.
> Instead, they look at alternative operating systems.
True, Vista is not getting the positive reaction overall. It has
become an antithesis to promises. The Economist Magazine has an
interesting article regarding this:
http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8550569
Microsoft Peaks, valleys and vistas
[selective quotes]
The launch of a new version of Microsoft Windows, called Vista,
is not quite the event it used to be. Has the software giant
reached the pinnacle of its power?
Toppling the software Babel
Computing has changed radically since Microsoft rose to
prominence 25 years ago with its operating system for IBM's
personal computer. Microsoft unified standards, which made life
easier for users and software writers. Both Windows and Office
were employed by software developers as platforms for their own
applications, nudging Microsoft further towards ubiquity. Now
three trends are changing this.
First is the rise of open-source software....
The second trend confronting Microsoft comes from online
applications and the rise of software as a service....
The third difficulty facing Windows and Office is security....
Windows and Office go together like salt and pepper. The question
now is whether there will be a decoupling. That could happen if
consumers buying a new computer take Windows Vista but decline to
buy Office 2007, because they can get similar applications
elsewhere, even free. The next step might be for computer-makers
to start pushing PCs with Linux rather than Windows installed on
them.
[/selective quotes]
This is what Singapore essentially has done, by having their
MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) replace 20,000 copies of Microsoft
Office 97 replaced with copies of OpenOffice.
Obviously the Singapore Government wasn't very impressed with
Microsoft in 2004, when told this:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/18/ballmer_linux_lawsuits/
[quote]
Use Linux and you will be sued, Ballmer tells governments
Lawsuit doom over 228 'stolen' patents predicted
By John Lettice → More by this author
Published Thursday 18th November 2004 10:34 GMT
Asian governments using Linux will be sued for IP violations,
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said today in Singapore. He did not
specify that Microsoft would be the company doing the suing, but
it's difficult to read the claim as anything other than a
declaration of IP war.
According to a Reuters report (which we fervently hope will
produce one of Ballmer's fascinating 'I was misquoted'
rebuttals*), Ballmer told Microsoft's Asian Government Leaders
Forum that Linux violates more than 228 patents. Come on Steve,
don't hold back - what you mean 'more than 228' - 229? 230? Don't
pull your punches to soften the blow to the community. "Some
day," he continued, "for all countries that are entering the WTO
[World Trade Organization], somebody will come and look for money
owing to the rights for that intellectual property."
[/quote]
Mary Jo Foley also had mentioned the same:
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/operating_systems/
is_microsoft_rattling_the_linuxpatent_sabers.html?kc=
MWRSS02129TX1K0000535
--
HPT
waterskidoo
> Following was sent recently and describes the strangehold
> Microsoft has on the Internet. Public viewing should not be tied
> to a particular proprietary operating system and browser.
>
> http://harishpillay.livejournal.com/60606.html
>
> [quote]
> harishpillay (harishpillay) wrote, @ 2007-08-05 23:36:00
> NDP online viewing only for Windows users?
> [This is sent to STForum <stf...@sph.com.sg>]
>
> Dear Editor -
>
> I am baffled as to why it is that those of us who want to view
> the 42nd National Day celebrations online have to have Microsoft
> Windows to do so?
>
> I was trying to view
> http://www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm/livecelebration/ and it says:
It works fine here with firefox and PClinuxos.
I clicked on the "Live Camera" link and it shows me a picture
of what looks like a field. I am getting some multicolored boxes
which look like pixelation, but it does work and does not
ask me for Active X.
Firefox is using the mplayer plugin FWIW.
yttrx
Capt. Morgan
"Hadron" <hadro...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:ps8x8pq...@googlemail.com...
If there was any doubt that the nym-shifting loser Rafael / High Plains
Thumper (inspired by Brokeback Mountain) is a idiot and a moron; this ought
to set the record right.
High Plains Sucker is a LOOOOOSER!!!!!!
Too damn stupid to configure his computer but stupid enough to endlessly
whine about it and blame Microsoft for his ineptness.
chrisv
>Too damn
*plonk*
High Plains Thumper
> "Hadron" wrote...
>> Tim Smith writes:
>>> High Plains Thumper quoted:
>>>
>>>> I am baffled as to why it is that those of us who want
>>>> to view the 42nd National Day celebrations online have
>>>> to have Microsoft Windows to do so?
>>>>
>>>> I was trying to view
>>>> http://www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm/livecelebration/ and it
>>>> says:
>>>
>>> It doesn't require Microsoft Windows. It works fine on
>>> Macs.
>>
>> Works fine in Ubuntu feisty using Firefox too.
>>
>> I guess High Plains Rafael ought to go back to Windows if he
>> is too stupid to configure his Linux properly.......
I had you 2 netiquetteless renegades plonked, look what comes
through the woodwork.
It is not legal in all countries to use unlicensed proprietary
codecs. Let me rephrase that. In some countries as an
individual user, you most likely will not be prosecuted if you
use "illegal codecs", US included. Other countries take a
stricter interpretation.
Thus, Mr. Pillay is correct when he speaks, not being able to
view Microsoft Windows content using Linux in Singapore.
> If there was any doubt that the nym-shifting loser Rafael /
> High Plains Thumper (inspired by Brokeback Mountain) is a
> idiot and a moron; this ought to set the record right.
>
> High Plains Sucker is a LOOOOOSER!!!!!!
>
> Too damn stupid to configure his computer but stupid enough to
> endlessly whine about it and blame Microsoft for his
> ineptness.
Hmmmm, scratches and sniffs homophobic wording. Eeeeee-ewe!
I've smelled that stench before. Breaks out dictionary:
http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Morgan
[quote]
The boy's and girl's name Morgan \m(o)-rgan, mor-gan\ is
pronounced MOR-gen. It is of Welsh and Old English origin, and
its meaning is "circling sea or great brightness; bright or white
sea dweller". The given meanings suggest the magical machinations
of King Arthur's jealous sister, Morgan le Fay. Usage for girls
increased during the 1980s, probably due to actress Morgan
Fairchild. Morgaine and Morgayne are medieval Irish forms.
[/quote]
Hmmmm, sea dweller, usage for girls, .... Oh yeah, Flatfish.
--
HPT
Tim Smith
High Plains Thumper <highplai...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> It is not legal in all countries to use unlicensed proprietary
> codecs. Let me rephrase that. In some countries as an
> individual user, you most likely will not be prosecuted if you
> use "illegal codecs", US included. Other countries take a
> stricter interpretation.
It works fine on my Mac, without using any unlicensed codecs.
--
--Tim Smith
Roy Schestowitz
Wow. Thanks for these! Golden refs.
--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz | "On the eighth day, God created UNIX"
http://Schestowitz.com | Free as in Free Beer | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
Load average (/proc/loadavg): 0.84 1.15 1.08 3/127 10219
http://iuron.com - semantic search engine project initiative
High Plains Thumper
> High Plains Thumper wrote:
>
>> It is not legal in all countries to use unlicensed
>> proprietary codecs. Let me rephrase that. In some
>> countries as an individual user, you most likely will
>> not be prosecuted if you use "illegal codecs", US
>> included. Other countries take a stricter
>> interpretation.
>
> It works fine on my Mac, without using any unlicensed
> codecs.
Hmmm .... I kill filed you, but you're not filtered in Google Groups.
Here is why it works fine on your Mac:
Windows Media Player 9 is licensed for Mac.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/
windowsmediaplayerformacosx.html
or
[quote]
Windows Media Player for Mac OS X 9.0
About Windows Media Player for Mac OS X
Sporting a new brushed steel skin for Apple's newest operating system,
this new version of our player opens the world of Windows Media 9
content to Macintosh users, enabling them to access the best audio and
video on the Web. New plug-in support added for Internet Explorer,
Netscape, and Safari enables playback of Windows Media files right
from the browser.
[/quote]
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/otherproducts/
otherproducts.aspx?pid=windowsmedia
or
[quote]
About Windows Media Player for Mac
With Windows Media Player for Mac, you can use Windows Media
Technologies, including the following:
* Windows Media content playback
* Plug-in support for Internet Explorer (Windows Media Player 9
only)
* Netscape® and Safari™ browsers
* High-quality audio and video
* Mac Classic skins
[/quote]
Here is why Mr. Harish Pillay was concerned that no public website for
the nation of Singapore should make use of proprietary formats for
viewing public content, when open ones are available.
Very simply stated, the file mms://ndpwmedia.staging.qala.com.sg/stream03
with properties video/x-ms-wmv requires Microsoft Media Player 9
Codec.
It is a Windows media video.
However, enjoy your freedom with viewing Microsoft streaming media,
while it lasts. Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows Media
Player for Mac:
[quote]
Microsoft will continue to offer Windows Media Player 9 as a free
download for Macintosh users, but has no plans to provide future
updates or product support for Windows Media Player for Mac.
As an alternative, Microsoft has teamed up with Telestream to make its
popular Flip4Mac program available to Macintosh users. Flip4Mac
provides Windows Media video and audio playback in the QuickTime
Player for Mac OS X.
[/quote]
There is a caveat in this next statement:
[quote]
Note: Flip4Mac does not support content that is protected with Windows
Media digital rights management (DRM).
[/quote]
You're screwed.
---
HPT