As a business member of the ODF Alliance and a proud supporter of the concepts behind Open Document Format. I currently use OpenOffice.org for all of my business related documents, and find it to be much more helpful than Microsoft Office most of the time.
Unfortunately, I see an area that the ODF could easily dominate that I think Microsoft Office fails at currently:
File Format APIs
Could you imagine a File Format API that would allow you to quickly and easily create documents from the command line, or via PHP scripts? Possibly creating a template in your favorite ODF creator then manipulating the file later via the API.
Then, just to make things even more fun, a tool to render the ODF file and print it to a printer or to a postscript file, which would also make it infinitely easier to create a PDF from the command line.
It is not hard to manipulate XML if you know what you are doing, but that should make an API even easier to create. How many developers want to learn the schema for ODF so they can write conversion scripts and dynamically generate ODF files on the fly? (note that I am not raising my hand here)
Now, how many developers would love to write conversion scripts and dynamically generate/manipulate ODF files on the fly without needing to know how ODF works? (I am frantically waving both arms in the air at this point.)
Here's another question: How many developers would love to use their command-line linux server to generate PDF files out of ODF files and move 90% of their paper forms to an intranet application, without needing to know how ODF works, and without having to install some sort of X server or X forwarding application? (I am now waving money in the air... but only for donating to the project or spending on support, because I'm a frugal individual that wants this technology available to everyone.)
If we started treating ODF like a real file format and not just another XML file, maybe more people would see the value in using it. I'm sure moving all of our canned reports and forms to an intranet that makes use of ODF would be a big hit, and could make it much easier to switch to StarOffice or OpenOffice.org, and most of the work has already been done for projects like OpenOffice.org.
The -headless command isn't enough if I still need to run X just to install OpenOffice.org. Once we take back the command line and create PHP, ASP, Ruby, etc extensions/plugins/objects/classes/methods/functions/whatevers that can manage, manipulate, convert, and fully utilize the Open Document Format, the quicker we can move away from a forced-vendor solution.
I would also assume the first company to do this could easily be a singe-vendor-by-choice (SVBC) for many companies.
Common SVBC's might be distributors, such as CDW who sell various hardware and offer support for just about all of it. I can still switch companies anytime I want, I'm not locked into CDW, but because of their service, I'm willing to choose them over other companies when making my IT purchases. (I am not paid by CDW, but if you work for CDW and you'd like to slide a little cash my way, feel free!)
The point is, I am choosing a single-vendor because of the security, reliability, and comfort of having one company that knows everything about my IT purchases.
If CDW all of a sudden said their products and services required that I only use them, I would drop them in a heartbeat.
The only thing worse than having more than one IT vendor is being forced to use only one IT vendor. That's the whole point of ODF from my perspective.
Let's take back the office document battlefield, and let's do it by providing options and solutions that Microsoft wouldn't dream of competing with for free.
Keep in mind that an easy-to-use API would make developing your own office software infinitely easier, so we would see tons of open document office suites pop up all over the place, making it much more difficult to sell office software, but much easier to sell tools and services that work efficiently and effectively with ODF files.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Saturday, November 11, 2006
When the Holy Spirit Talks
I'm typing this on my laptop in a hotel room at a Christian Conference Center in New Mexico. The reason I am typing this is to share what happened tonight with others, and archive something public that I will be held accountable for before I forget it.
This is not about legalism, dumping out any beer that might be in my fridge, or burning all of my books, but is about being ministered to directly by the Holy Spirit, and realizing what has been missing from my walk with God.
Tonight we had an awesome message by pastor Dave Row, who was talking about David and Bathsheba. He discussed a lot of great points, but the overall theme that I got from it was that we have to be ready, we have to be prepared, and we have to be continually fighting the good fight in order to avoid falling when we least expect it.
No serious opponent in battle will attack when their foe's defenses are at their strongest. They will wear them down, cut off food supplies if necessary, and will prevent them from gaining a defensive advantage. Once the foe's defenses are at their weakest, the enemy will attack, and will most likely succeed.
As a Christian, my defenses are the weakest when I think I don't need them, or when I forget that I'm in a battle altogether. As a human being living and breathing, we are involved in a battle, whether we want to be or not. As a Christian, we are fighting on the winning side. But just because we are on the winning side, doesn't mean that we ourselves are making a positive impact on the battle. In fact, I believe Christians can have a negative impact on the battle unless they are properly focused on God and fully engaged in the battle.
As a human being, I have a default nature (as we all do), and that default nature wants to be satisfied. It wants to be comfortable, and it wants to feel good. God has graciously been protecting me against the most common pitfall to men, which is sexual immorality, but there are still other areas of the battle that I didn't know where anywhere near the battle. My time and my efforts.
I just started reading an awesome book series by C.S. Lewis, and have really enjoyed the few times I've found to sit down and read it. I also have taken up juggling and might soon start a juggling ministry at my church. These are not bad things. In fact, they can be good things, when done according to God's timetables and God's order of priority.
I have not been having daily bible studies, and I have not been leading my wife in daily prayer and bible studies. If I'm not reading the word of God, why am I reading the words of men? If I'm not putting forth an effort to build the Kingdom of God, why am I putting forth an effort to learn to juggle?
Is my focus on my self, or on God?
My wife and I have confronted ourselves on this recently, and we have both been convicted to put our focus on God. Unfortunately, I've let myself get lazy, complacent, and comfortable. I don't feel Satan attacking me like he has in the past, but that's because he is probably simply putting me very slowly and cautiously to sleep, hoping I won't notice.
I didn't notice. Until tonight.
I have been compromising in areas that I don't normally struggle with, and that aren't my primary focus. I always have memorized scripture on hand ready to quote when presented with even a hint of sexual immorality. I also use that scripture to avoid pride, greed, and a self-righteous attitude. Instead, I have been compromising in how I spend my time. When presented with the choice to read God's word, or to read an entertaining book, or watch a TV show, or work on my computer, I rarely choose God's word.
I strongly felt the Holy Spirit talking and ministering to me tonight, convicting me of these areas that are not normally a focus for me. I do not feel at all whatsoever that reading fiction and learning to juggle are wrong. I just know that letting my relationship with Christ "coast" is wrong.
By not striving to grow closer and closer to God, and behave more and more like Christ, I am simply putting back on the old self, when I need to die to self, and offer myself as a living sacrifice in all areas of my life, not just the times at work, or the times I'm presented with the temptation to get angry or bitter, but also when I'm presented with the temptation to spend my time in a manner that is not glorifying to God.
If what I'm doing is not to glorify God, then why am I doing it?
I specifically need to stop reading the books I'm reading, and stop watching TV, and stop working on my computer needlessly, and start reading the Word, responding to the Word, and putting on the Armor of God so I can daily take up my Cross and follow Christ.
When I have reached that point, then I will start reading books that I know will not compromize my walk with Christ.
This is not to say everyone should do this, but the Holy Spirit clearly pointed out to me that I need to re-evaluate how I spend my time, and whose glory I am seeking after. Is it my own, or is it God's?
This is not about legalism, dumping out any beer that might be in my fridge, or burning all of my books, but is about being ministered to directly by the Holy Spirit, and realizing what has been missing from my walk with God.
Tonight we had an awesome message by pastor Dave Row, who was talking about David and Bathsheba. He discussed a lot of great points, but the overall theme that I got from it was that we have to be ready, we have to be prepared, and we have to be continually fighting the good fight in order to avoid falling when we least expect it.
No serious opponent in battle will attack when their foe's defenses are at their strongest. They will wear them down, cut off food supplies if necessary, and will prevent them from gaining a defensive advantage. Once the foe's defenses are at their weakest, the enemy will attack, and will most likely succeed.
As a Christian, my defenses are the weakest when I think I don't need them, or when I forget that I'm in a battle altogether. As a human being living and breathing, we are involved in a battle, whether we want to be or not. As a Christian, we are fighting on the winning side. But just because we are on the winning side, doesn't mean that we ourselves are making a positive impact on the battle. In fact, I believe Christians can have a negative impact on the battle unless they are properly focused on God and fully engaged in the battle.
As a human being, I have a default nature (as we all do), and that default nature wants to be satisfied. It wants to be comfortable, and it wants to feel good. God has graciously been protecting me against the most common pitfall to men, which is sexual immorality, but there are still other areas of the battle that I didn't know where anywhere near the battle. My time and my efforts.
I just started reading an awesome book series by C.S. Lewis, and have really enjoyed the few times I've found to sit down and read it. I also have taken up juggling and might soon start a juggling ministry at my church. These are not bad things. In fact, they can be good things, when done according to God's timetables and God's order of priority.
I have not been having daily bible studies, and I have not been leading my wife in daily prayer and bible studies. If I'm not reading the word of God, why am I reading the words of men? If I'm not putting forth an effort to build the Kingdom of God, why am I putting forth an effort to learn to juggle?
Is my focus on my self, or on God?
My wife and I have confronted ourselves on this recently, and we have both been convicted to put our focus on God. Unfortunately, I've let myself get lazy, complacent, and comfortable. I don't feel Satan attacking me like he has in the past, but that's because he is probably simply putting me very slowly and cautiously to sleep, hoping I won't notice.
I didn't notice. Until tonight.
I have been compromising in areas that I don't normally struggle with, and that aren't my primary focus. I always have memorized scripture on hand ready to quote when presented with even a hint of sexual immorality. I also use that scripture to avoid pride, greed, and a self-righteous attitude. Instead, I have been compromising in how I spend my time. When presented with the choice to read God's word, or to read an entertaining book, or watch a TV show, or work on my computer, I rarely choose God's word.
I strongly felt the Holy Spirit talking and ministering to me tonight, convicting me of these areas that are not normally a focus for me. I do not feel at all whatsoever that reading fiction and learning to juggle are wrong. I just know that letting my relationship with Christ "coast" is wrong.
By not striving to grow closer and closer to God, and behave more and more like Christ, I am simply putting back on the old self, when I need to die to self, and offer myself as a living sacrifice in all areas of my life, not just the times at work, or the times I'm presented with the temptation to get angry or bitter, but also when I'm presented with the temptation to spend my time in a manner that is not glorifying to God.
If what I'm doing is not to glorify God, then why am I doing it?
I specifically need to stop reading the books I'm reading, and stop watching TV, and stop working on my computer needlessly, and start reading the Word, responding to the Word, and putting on the Armor of God so I can daily take up my Cross and follow Christ.
When I have reached that point, then I will start reading books that I know will not compromize my walk with Christ.
This is not to say everyone should do this, but the Holy Spirit clearly pointed out to me that I need to re-evaluate how I spend my time, and whose glory I am seeking after. Is it my own, or is it God's?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Windows Wireless Peekaboo and other home-networking woes
I have inadvertently installed a game I didn't want on my computer. This is the type of game that my computer plays, and that I can only play the role of spectator in.
Call me selfish, but if there's a game on my computer, I want to be the one playing it. (or my wife, in the case of Nancy Drew and other girlie mystery games that are kind of fun to play.. I mean that are fun to watch my wife play....)
The way the game works, is I set up a wireless network with WEP encryption. I then use a wireless PCI adapter of the same brand as my wireless router so my desktop can connect to the wireless network.
The final step is to connect to the router with Windows XP.
This is where the fun begins!
Windows, feeling excited at its new found friend, W.R. Puff-N-Stuff (Wireless Router), quickly starts talking to it and exchanging contact details, memories, and after some handshaking and packet exchanging, they are best of friends... like they've known each other for years!
As they start working together they reminisce over the days of yestermonth, when they first met and were in the honeymoon phase of their relationship.
In an effort to return to those wonderful days long past, Windows and W.R. decide to play a friendly game of peek-a-boo, and invite me to watch. As I'm writing an email in response to a purchase of an Ubuntu Christian Edition CD (only $5.00 each plus $0.75 shipping!), the router, with its thin yet effective antennae hides itself behind an imaginary steel and copper plated wall (in reality made out of thin air, swirling around the room as a result of those pesky tsunami-inducing butterflies somewhere in the east). This waft of air, which is quickly turned into a steel and copper wall by the imagination of both W.R. and Windows, pass through right as W.R. says "Where'd the Wireless Router Go?!?!" in a childish and happy voice.
Having years of networking experience, and the most up-to-date drivers, Windows quickly responds with "Wah?! huh?!? OMG (oh my goodness!) Where DID the Wireless Router Go?!?!!!?".
The butterfly is quickly smote by a young child practicing ineffectively the art of ken-do with a rolled up instruction manual for a wal*mart product that hasn't yet shipped. The wind dies, the imaginary wall is removed, and only moments after the game began, the final round is at hand.
At this point, the Router is now visible, and Windows, filled with extreeme joy of reuniting with its long-lost friend greets him with a quick tear-filled "THERE you are!!!" before swapping the most up-to-date contact information, a few packets, and even some more handshakes, lest they part ways again without knowing how to keep in touch.
It is at this moment that the game is over, my email gets sent, and I relax as another hour or so passes on the Church-Forge forums before yet another butterfly finds its way into the beautiful Eastern landscape and begins flapping the exhaustion off its wings, providing a cool breeze across the amber waves of grain, and into my apartment as my wife arrives home from work, ready to to relax and spend time with her mildly frustrated husband mumbling about butterflies and steel-and-copper walls in a game of peek-a-boo.
Call me selfish, but if there's a game on my computer, I want to be the one playing it. (or my wife, in the case of Nancy Drew and other girlie mystery games that are kind of fun to play.. I mean that are fun to watch my wife play....)
The way the game works, is I set up a wireless network with WEP encryption. I then use a wireless PCI adapter of the same brand as my wireless router so my desktop can connect to the wireless network.
The final step is to connect to the router with Windows XP.
This is where the fun begins!
Windows, feeling excited at its new found friend, W.R. Puff-N-Stuff (Wireless Router), quickly starts talking to it and exchanging contact details, memories, and after some handshaking and packet exchanging, they are best of friends... like they've known each other for years!
As they start working together they reminisce over the days of yestermonth, when they first met and were in the honeymoon phase of their relationship.
In an effort to return to those wonderful days long past, Windows and W.R. decide to play a friendly game of peek-a-boo, and invite me to watch. As I'm writing an email in response to a purchase of an Ubuntu Christian Edition CD (only $5.00 each plus $0.75 shipping!), the router, with its thin yet effective antennae hides itself behind an imaginary steel and copper plated wall (in reality made out of thin air, swirling around the room as a result of those pesky tsunami-inducing butterflies somewhere in the east). This waft of air, which is quickly turned into a steel and copper wall by the imagination of both W.R. and Windows, pass through right as W.R. says "Where'd the Wireless Router Go?!?!" in a childish and happy voice.
Having years of networking experience, and the most up-to-date drivers, Windows quickly responds with "Wah?! huh?!? OMG (oh my goodness!) Where DID the Wireless Router Go?!?!!!?".
The butterfly is quickly smote by a young child practicing ineffectively the art of ken-do with a rolled up instruction manual for a wal*mart product that hasn't yet shipped. The wind dies, the imaginary wall is removed, and only moments after the game began, the final round is at hand.
At this point, the Router is now visible, and Windows, filled with extreeme joy of reuniting with its long-lost friend greets him with a quick tear-filled "THERE you are!!!" before swapping the most up-to-date contact information, a few packets, and even some more handshakes, lest they part ways again without knowing how to keep in touch.
It is at this moment that the game is over, my email gets sent, and I relax as another hour or so passes on the Church-Forge forums before yet another butterfly finds its way into the beautiful Eastern landscape and begins flapping the exhaustion off its wings, providing a cool breeze across the amber waves of grain, and into my apartment as my wife arrives home from work, ready to to relax and spend time with her mildly frustrated husband mumbling about butterflies and steel-and-copper walls in a game of peek-a-boo.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Adding my Podcast to the series of tubes
I have bit the bullet, and started a podcast. I talk about how to use current technology (preferrably open source) to furthur Christian Ministries.
The podcast consists of three segments, a Review or Product Spotlight, a How To or Tips and Tricks, and a short Bible study. The shows are released every Sunday evening (better to set your podcasting app for early monday morning!), and usually run between 15 and 30 minutes in length.
Plus, my wife does some of the voice-overs, and MercyMe has been kind enough to allow me to use some of their music for the intro. All in all, it's a pretty neat thing to look into if you are at all interested in reliable, free software. (I don't , to my knowledge, review any software that installs malware, pop-ups, or other advertisements)
Check it out at geekons.com (get it? Geek + Deacons = Geekons)
The podcast consists of three segments, a Review or Product Spotlight, a How To or Tips and Tricks, and a short Bible study. The shows are released every Sunday evening (better to set your podcasting app for early monday morning!), and usually run between 15 and 30 minutes in length.
Plus, my wife does some of the voice-overs, and MercyMe has been kind enough to allow me to use some of their music for the intro. All in all, it's a pretty neat thing to look into if you are at all interested in reliable, free software. (I don't , to my knowledge, review any software that installs malware, pop-ups, or other advertisements)
Check it out at geekons.com (get it? Geek + Deacons = Geekons)
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Open-Minded Geekdom: a lesson in iTunes and other technologies
As a geek, I have always rejected anything popular, be that something as large as the Windows Operating System, or as small as iTunes. The fear of something popular being worthless comes from years of overpaying for software that isn't well supported when push comes to shove. Another example of why geeks shy away from popular things can be summed up in two words: "American Idol". (Or pop music)
Based on this, I have been using Windows only when neccessary, staying as far away from Windows Media Player as possible, and only touching Apple products and software when absolutely neccessary.
A few weeks ago a geek friend of mine (even if he doesn't admit he is a geek) mentioned that he used Windows Media Player 10, and therefore couldn't help me with a winamp question I had. This shocked me, but after I got over the shock, I installed MediaPlayer 10 and found it not too difficult to use.
I still use OpenOffice.org, Inkscape, Firefox, SciTE, Thunderbird, and 7-zip, but it definitely opened my mind to trying things that are not Open Source.
This extended to Apple when the leader of my Church's Web Servants got an iPOD and showed me some of the features of the device. When I saw the features and quality of the device, not to mention the ease of use, I decided to try out iTunes.
Much unlike the OSX Operating System itself, iTunes is incredibly easy to use. It also has tons of features, and just makes sense. It's almost like it is one "beta" tag away from being a google application.
Through this, I've learned that especially as a geek, I need to keep up on current technologies. As long as I'm not risking security (by doing something silly like using Internet Explorer), all I'm doing is learning what works. Imagine if the GIMP used features and interfaces similar to the Photoshop? It would have the same usability and same quality experience and results.
On a sidenote, Windows Media Player 11 beta doesn't seem all that great. I'll be switching to iTunes, or keeping WMP10 unless they make some dramatic changes, but that will come in a later review.
Based on this, I have been using Windows only when neccessary, staying as far away from Windows Media Player as possible, and only touching Apple products and software when absolutely neccessary.
A few weeks ago a geek friend of mine (even if he doesn't admit he is a geek) mentioned that he used Windows Media Player 10, and therefore couldn't help me with a winamp question I had. This shocked me, but after I got over the shock, I installed MediaPlayer 10 and found it not too difficult to use.
I still use OpenOffice.org, Inkscape, Firefox, SciTE, Thunderbird, and 7-zip, but it definitely opened my mind to trying things that are not Open Source.
This extended to Apple when the leader of my Church's Web Servants got an iPOD and showed me some of the features of the device. When I saw the features and quality of the device, not to mention the ease of use, I decided to try out iTunes.
Much unlike the OSX Operating System itself, iTunes is incredibly easy to use. It also has tons of features, and just makes sense. It's almost like it is one "beta" tag away from being a google application.
Through this, I've learned that especially as a geek, I need to keep up on current technologies. As long as I'm not risking security (by doing something silly like using Internet Explorer), all I'm doing is learning what works. Imagine if the GIMP used features and interfaces similar to the Photoshop? It would have the same usability and same quality experience and results.
On a sidenote, Windows Media Player 11 beta doesn't seem all that great. I'll be switching to iTunes, or keeping WMP10 unless they make some dramatic changes, but that will come in a later review.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Biodiesel for fun and profit!
First things first, when I go to grill out, I grab bun-sized Beef Franks, not tofu-dogs. I still enjoy the occassional McDonald value meal, and I shop at walmart.
I also don't like spending nearly $3 per US Gallon of Gasoline.
Enter BioDiesel. It can be made from almost any vegetable oil, and is less toxic than table salt. I've heard some diesel engines produce more horespower when using B100 (100% Biodiesel) than when using petrolium-based diesel. The only thing that might make that possible is the fact that the original Diesel engine was intended to run off of vegetable oil, not petrolium.
While many diesels can run off of straight vegetable oil (the kind you can buy off the shelf at your local grocery store), it will probably wind up clogging something up unless you modify your vehicle to accept the thicker fluid. Processing vegetable oil into biodiesel will remove the thick viscosity. The byproduct of creating biodiesel is glycerine, which is used in skincare products, cough-syrups, food sweeteners/preservatives, and many other things.
Many people who produce their own biodiesel claim to spend less than $0.50 per US gallon. Imagine filling a 16 Gallon tank for $8!
Just some fuel for thought.
I also don't like spending nearly $3 per US Gallon of Gasoline.
Enter BioDiesel. It can be made from almost any vegetable oil, and is less toxic than table salt. I've heard some diesel engines produce more horespower when using B100 (100% Biodiesel) than when using petrolium-based diesel. The only thing that might make that possible is the fact that the original Diesel engine was intended to run off of vegetable oil, not petrolium.
While many diesels can run off of straight vegetable oil (the kind you can buy off the shelf at your local grocery store), it will probably wind up clogging something up unless you modify your vehicle to accept the thicker fluid. Processing vegetable oil into biodiesel will remove the thick viscosity. The byproduct of creating biodiesel is glycerine, which is used in skincare products, cough-syrups, food sweeteners/preservatives, and many other things.
Many people who produce their own biodiesel claim to spend less than $0.50 per US gallon. Imagine filling a 16 Gallon tank for $8!
Just some fuel for thought.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
RIAA: Is copying illegal this week?
Synopsis:
In March of 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said copying CDs to MP3 was legal, as long as you did not distribute it to other listeners who had not purchased the music themselves.
In February of 2006, the RIAA then said copying CDs to MP3 was illegal, reguardless of how many times you have purchased the originating CD. Their solution is to replace CDs that get scratched with new ones.
Evidence:
March of 2005:
Supreme Court Transcript 04-480, page 11, available in PDF format from the official supreme court website.
From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios v Grokster, Donald Verrilli representing the petitioners:
February of 2006
Copyright Docket No. RM 2005-11, page 22, available in PDF format from the official US Copyright website.
From page 40 of the same document:
Conclusion:
It appears the RIAA is not interested in the consumer's right to have full use of the product they purchase. Imagine purchasing a car and being told you were not allowed to fix it when it broke, but instead were encouraged to purchase a replacement car at an "affordable price".
Purchasing CDs and supporting bands backed by the RIAA only encourages them and shows that they are able to rewrite Fair Use policy anytime they wish. I, for one, will not be supporting this organization until they change their policies.
In March of 2005, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) said copying CDs to MP3 was legal, as long as you did not distribute it to other listeners who had not purchased the music themselves.
In February of 2006, the RIAA then said copying CDs to MP3 was illegal, reguardless of how many times you have purchased the originating CD. Their solution is to replace CDs that get scratched with new ones.
Evidence:
March of 2005:
Supreme Court Transcript 04-480, page 11, available in PDF format from the official supreme court website.
From Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios v Grokster, Donald Verrilli representing the petitioners:
...and let me pick out the iPod as one, because it's the most current example, I guess. From the moment that device was introduced, it was obvious that there were very significant lawful commercial uses for it. And let me clarify something I think is unclear from the amicus briefs. The record companies, my clients, have said, for some time now, and it's been on their Website for some time now, that it's perfectly lawful to take a CD that you've purchased, upload it onto your computer, put it onto your iPod...(emphasis added)
February of 2006
Copyright Docket No. RM 2005-11, page 22, available in PDF format from the official US Copyright website.
...creating a back-up copy of a music CD is not a non-infringing use, for reasons similar to those the Register canvassed in detail in her 2003 determination that back-up copying of DVDs cannot be treated as noninfringing.47 2003 Rec. at 102-08. While we recognize that access controls may in some circumstances affect copying, the fact remains that there is no general exception to the reproduction right to allow back-up copying (except the limited exception in § 117 for computer programs)48 and thus no justification for allowing circumvention of access controls for this purpose.(emphasis added)
From page 40 of the same document:
Even if CDs do become damaged, replacements are readily available at affordable prices.(emphasis not needed, it's pretty obvious)
Conclusion:
It appears the RIAA is not interested in the consumer's right to have full use of the product they purchase. Imagine purchasing a car and being told you were not allowed to fix it when it broke, but instead were encouraged to purchase a replacement car at an "affordable price".
Purchasing CDs and supporting bands backed by the RIAA only encourages them and shows that they are able to rewrite Fair Use policy anytime they wish. I, for one, will not be supporting this organization until they change their policies.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Client-Side Server Scripting
While many people think it is impossible to shift Server-Side Duties to the Client, it isn't! Apparently the group of people hired to write a web application for my employer (my full-time job that supports my pursuit of Woven Thorns Productions, not WTP itself) decided to do just that.
By using Java applets to write server-side applications, we are able to require that everyone use the Java Runtime Environment. No biggie, that is made for linux, windows, mac OS, and of course solaris. So I install it on my windows machine and on my Linux machine. The application works great in Internet explorer 6+ on Windows XP Pro, but does not work in Firefox 1.5 on Windows, nor does it work in Firefox 1.0.7 on Linux.
If the developers had used something such as PHP, ASP, Perl, or any CGI language, then this would be a non-issue, because the work would be done on the server side of things. Heck, they could even throw in some Javascript to make it look and perform the exact same way. But here's the problem, Javascript can be purified down to a simple, cross browser, cross platform language (minus a few Microsoft changes, which are easily tip-toed around) that will work on all versions of Firefox on all Operating Systems, as well as IE, Safari, Opera, etc. etc. All without having to add Java Runtime Plugins for each browser.
Why didn't we do this?
My only guess is money. Java developers connecting to Oracle Servers get paid better than PHP developers connecting to MySQL/PostgreSQL Servers. (Side Note: PHP can connect to Oracle Servers just fine, and can even be compiled to encrypt the database usernames and passwords)
So for all the Java developers out there, please continue making great, compiled, desktop applications for specific operating systems, but leave the internet alone unless you can garuntee cross-browser, cross-platform portability. I'm tired of being told to "view this page in IE". That's like saying you can't watch a black and white TV show because I have a color TV. If a standard signal was sent, I could watch whatever I want to.
Please, if you work on the web, don't do what is easy, or what is lazy, do what is portable. If your website requires something other than what is packaged by default with Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Opera, then please recreate your site.
Some examples of methods that defeat the purpose of web applications:
If you want to target an operating system, create stand-alone applications. If you want to target anyone with the internet and a web browser, write standards-compliant, ADA friendly, server-side applications.
By using Java applets to write server-side applications, we are able to require that everyone use the Java Runtime Environment. No biggie, that is made for linux, windows, mac OS, and of course solaris. So I install it on my windows machine and on my Linux machine. The application works great in Internet explorer 6+ on Windows XP Pro, but does not work in Firefox 1.5 on Windows, nor does it work in Firefox 1.0.7 on Linux.
If the developers had used something such as PHP, ASP, Perl, or any CGI language, then this would be a non-issue, because the work would be done on the server side of things. Heck, they could even throw in some Javascript to make it look and perform the exact same way. But here's the problem, Javascript can be purified down to a simple, cross browser, cross platform language (minus a few Microsoft changes, which are easily tip-toed around) that will work on all versions of Firefox on all Operating Systems, as well as IE, Safari, Opera, etc. etc. All without having to add Java Runtime Plugins for each browser.
Why didn't we do this?
My only guess is money. Java developers connecting to Oracle Servers get paid better than PHP developers connecting to MySQL/PostgreSQL Servers. (Side Note: PHP can connect to Oracle Servers just fine, and can even be compiled to encrypt the database usernames and passwords)
So for all the Java developers out there, please continue making great, compiled, desktop applications for specific operating systems, but leave the internet alone unless you can garuntee cross-browser, cross-platform portability. I'm tired of being told to "view this page in IE". That's like saying you can't watch a black and white TV show because I have a color TV. If a standard signal was sent, I could watch whatever I want to.
Please, if you work on the web, don't do what is easy, or what is lazy, do what is portable. If your website requires something other than what is packaged by default with Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Opera, then please recreate your site.
Some examples of methods that defeat the purpose of web applications:
- Java Applets
- Flash-Only websites
- AJAX-Only websites
- Complex Table layouts
- Any web content, CSS, Graphic, etc. geared for a single web browser.
If you want to target an operating system, create stand-alone applications. If you want to target anyone with the internet and a web browser, write standards-compliant, ADA friendly, server-side applications.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Webserver Setup in Ubuntu
Tonight I will be taking my laptop with me to work on a website, but the place I am going does not have a secure connection to the internet available. (No wired connection, and only unsecured wireless)
Because I'm paranoid when it comes to security, I will be insalling PHP5, MySQL, and Apache2 on my Ubuntu 5.10 based laptop. Here's my steps:
2:37PM
Click on System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager
Enter the Administrator Password. (normal users shouldn't be able to install/remove applications without a password)
Click "Search" and type in "php5" and click the "Search" button.
Check the box next to "libapache2-mod-php5" and click "Mark" on the popup window that confirms that I am okay with installing the additional packages required to get this library working. (Such packages include apache2, php5, openssl, and related items)
Check the box next to php5-mysql
Check the box next to php-pear
Check the box next to php5-gd
Click "Apply"
Review the changes and click "Apply" again.
2:42PM
watch as files are downloaded and installed
2:43PM
Review the window that confirms it downloaded and installed properly
2:44PM
Remember I need to install MySQL and run a search for "MySQL"
Check the box next to "mysql-server" and accept the additional packages.
2:45PM
Click "Apply" and confirm the changes by clicking "Apply" again.
Wait and watch as the files are downloaded and installed.
2:46PM
Follow the Postfix Configuration wizard:
Choose Local Only (since this is for developmental purposes only)
Accept the default mail name (we won't really be using postfix anyway)
Watch as it installs the rest of the packages we chose.
2:48PM
Click "Close" at the Changes Applied screen.
2:49PM
Because I'm a geek, I'm going to install PEAR DB, so I open up a terminal and type in:
sudo pear install db
(because I want the administrator to make pear install the pear DB package)
2:50PM
Open up firefox and type in "localhost" to make sure it all worked.
It Did!!
2:51PM
Download all the neccessary scripts from my FTP server that I will be modifying, so I can work on them locally, then set up a MySQL user for the script to use.
2:55PM
DONE!
In an 18 minute time span I was able to install and set up a webserver that has PHP5, MySQL 4, Apache 2, and PEAR::DB. I was also able to download my files from my FTP server using gFTP, a simple and elegant FTP client.
I'll post tomorrow how well it worked, and what issues I've run into with my rushed webserver installation.
Because I'm paranoid when it comes to security, I will be insalling PHP5, MySQL, and Apache2 on my Ubuntu 5.10 based laptop. Here's my steps:
2:37PM
Click on System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager
Enter the Administrator Password. (normal users shouldn't be able to install/remove applications without a password)
Click "Search" and type in "php5" and click the "Search" button.
Check the box next to "libapache2-mod-php5" and click "Mark" on the popup window that confirms that I am okay with installing the additional packages required to get this library working. (Such packages include apache2, php5, openssl, and related items)
Check the box next to php5-mysql
Check the box next to php-pear
Check the box next to php5-gd
Click "Apply"
Review the changes and click "Apply" again.
2:42PM
watch as files are downloaded and installed
2:43PM
Review the window that confirms it downloaded and installed properly
2:44PM
Remember I need to install MySQL and run a search for "MySQL"
Check the box next to "mysql-server" and accept the additional packages.
2:45PM
Click "Apply" and confirm the changes by clicking "Apply" again.
Wait and watch as the files are downloaded and installed.
2:46PM
Follow the Postfix Configuration wizard:
Choose Local Only (since this is for developmental purposes only)
Accept the default mail name (we won't really be using postfix anyway)
Watch as it installs the rest of the packages we chose.
2:48PM
Click "Close" at the Changes Applied screen.
2:49PM
Because I'm a geek, I'm going to install PEAR DB, so I open up a terminal and type in:
sudo pear install db
(because I want the administrator to make pear install the pear DB package)
2:50PM
Open up firefox and type in "localhost" to make sure it all worked.
It Did!!
2:51PM
Download all the neccessary scripts from my FTP server that I will be modifying, so I can work on them locally, then set up a MySQL user for the script to use.
2:55PM
DONE!
In an 18 minute time span I was able to install and set up a webserver that has PHP5, MySQL 4, Apache 2, and PEAR::DB. I was also able to download my files from my FTP server using gFTP, a simple and elegant FTP client.
I'll post tomorrow how well it worked, and what issues I've run into with my rushed webserver installation.
Where the death of DVD should lead us
According to Australian news source, The Age, DVD is dead. And they leave open a question for what comes next. They, and many other sources, point to the standard HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray battle, but I for one am holding out for option 3, which is actually coming on much quicker than I anticipated.
Digital video for download.
Before I jump into why, and if companies should trust users, I'd like to drudge up some recent bad press for the companies that would disagree with me.
As everyone by now knows, Sony Music has released a beefed up version of Digital Rights Management (DRM) that was essentially a rootkit. Without going too far into detail, I'll just say that it created a space on your computer that you did not have access to, but ran Sony branded scripts, such as those that would send information back to their servers every time you played their CDs. On top of that, virus writers found a way to exploit this rootkit and install viruses in a manner that you, nor your virus scanner, could remove them, all thanks to Sony's DRM.
This was all to keep you from being able to make a backup copy of your CD, as well as to keep you from listening to the music on your mp3 player, ipod, etc.
After Sony denied the existence of the rootkit, and denied the severity, it was made public on numerous websites, news articles, and television shows. Sony then agreed it was a bad idea and offered to replace all of the affected CDs by shipping out new CDs to the customers. While customers were waiting on the new CD, they were offered free downloads of the mp3 version of the songs. So in the end, Sony's outrageous method of DRM intended to prevent mp3's being made of their music caused them to release the mp3 version of their songs.
Had Sony offered free mp3 downloads for songs people purchased to begin with, customer satisfaction would have gone through the roof, and iTunes users everywhere would probably start buying Sony branded CDs. Instead, many people (including myself) are going to be very skeptical before purchasing a Sony branded CD, much less any audio CD that advertises DRM.
The solution:
The solution to this problem is simple. Allow owners of media content the ability to use that media content in any way they see fit, as long as they do not break copyright laws for their country. This means, do not copy the music or video and give it to someone else, there should be a license agreement to prevent this anyway. However, if you would like to copy the music or movie to your computer so you can stream it over your home network to all of the rooms in your own home, then by all means, enjoy.
Adding company-wide DRM policies that impact the playability and usability of a product will only cause bad press, more lawsuits, and possibly indigestion.
Unfortunately I have decided as a Christian and as a Business Owner to use only legal software on my computers, and I refuse to knowingly break any laws (and try my hardest to keep myself educated on the laws that are easy to break unknowingly). I say "unfortunately" because this means I must go return my DVDs as they do not play in my computer's DVD player. I was told I needed to purchase a DVD decoder in order to play the encrypted DVDs, but I was told this after I purchased a fairly large collection. It is also important to note that Windows based PCs and Macintosh based PCs are the only computer systems that have decoders available. This means Unix, BSD, and Linux users are left out in the cold.
I won't make this a Linux vs. the world debate, but considering the number of linux users has been nearly doubling each year, it does not make sense to prevent users from playing encrypted DVD video on this platform.
If you live in a country that allows you to break the encryption on DVDs for the purpose of viewing them, you can download various open-source DVD decryption libraries that are a sinch to install. Unfortunately, United States law prevents me from doing this on my laptop, because that wouldn't be fair to the company I paid so I could watch the movie they produced.
The only solution I see is for DVD decoders to be freely available for every operating system that supports DVD video playback, or to remove encryption altogether. And if we are removing encryption altogether, we might as well offer downloads for at least the 3 most popular Operating Systems.
By moving to a more standardized approach of media content distribution, we will be able to realize the technology corporations are struggling to support today, but without the headaches caused by DRM, proprietary encoding, and lack of respect for Fair Use rights in many countries.
Some interesting facts to think of while watching the media drool over new, yet proprietary, technology:
The encoding methods used to create DVD video has been surpassed by not only proprietary video encoding methods, but also by open-source and freely available encoding methods. XviD has better compression rates than DVD video while maintaining better video quality, and is free to use on any system, including future set-top players.
Plasma TV's have fewer horizontal scan lines than standard television sets. While they have larger surface areas, look nice and thin, and have better viewing angles than other large-screen TVs, they still technically have worse resolution and therefore worse quality than a standard $150 television.
Flat pannel computer monitors that reach resolutions of up to 1280x1024 are now available for less than $250 while most "HD-ready" sets are not even able to completely support the 1280x720 HD standard. A new standard, 1920x1080 is being pushed, and with high-end HD plamas reaching closer to 768 lines, the end result is a 1920x1080 image shrunken down to fit into a 1366x768 screen. That means some pixels are completely lost, but not an even number, so while it may not be overly obvious, you will be missing some of the picture on the $4,000 50" plasma when a $400 22" CRT monitor could accurately display up to 2048x1536.
If more money were spent on usable computer formats, we could start downloading movies at higher than current "High Definition" resolutions and play them on truly high resolution computer monitors (that could easily be expanded to a more enjoyable 42" if the demand presented itself). In the future, I see very few electronics being without standard computer parts, especially entertainment centers which are already seeing PCs as a valid source of media. Why pay a monthly fee for television shows on demand when you can purchase the show for $2 on iTunes the day after it comes out?
Why purchase a 1280x720 HD DVD that requires a decryptor, when current computers support much higher resolutions that don't requre extra software?
Digital video for download.
Before I jump into why, and if companies should trust users, I'd like to drudge up some recent bad press for the companies that would disagree with me.
As everyone by now knows, Sony Music has released a beefed up version of Digital Rights Management (DRM) that was essentially a rootkit. Without going too far into detail, I'll just say that it created a space on your computer that you did not have access to, but ran Sony branded scripts, such as those that would send information back to their servers every time you played their CDs. On top of that, virus writers found a way to exploit this rootkit and install viruses in a manner that you, nor your virus scanner, could remove them, all thanks to Sony's DRM.
This was all to keep you from being able to make a backup copy of your CD, as well as to keep you from listening to the music on your mp3 player, ipod, etc.
After Sony denied the existence of the rootkit, and denied the severity, it was made public on numerous websites, news articles, and television shows. Sony then agreed it was a bad idea and offered to replace all of the affected CDs by shipping out new CDs to the customers. While customers were waiting on the new CD, they were offered free downloads of the mp3 version of the songs. So in the end, Sony's outrageous method of DRM intended to prevent mp3's being made of their music caused them to release the mp3 version of their songs.
Had Sony offered free mp3 downloads for songs people purchased to begin with, customer satisfaction would have gone through the roof, and iTunes users everywhere would probably start buying Sony branded CDs. Instead, many people (including myself) are going to be very skeptical before purchasing a Sony branded CD, much less any audio CD that advertises DRM.
The solution:
The solution to this problem is simple. Allow owners of media content the ability to use that media content in any way they see fit, as long as they do not break copyright laws for their country. This means, do not copy the music or video and give it to someone else, there should be a license agreement to prevent this anyway. However, if you would like to copy the music or movie to your computer so you can stream it over your home network to all of the rooms in your own home, then by all means, enjoy.
Adding company-wide DRM policies that impact the playability and usability of a product will only cause bad press, more lawsuits, and possibly indigestion.
Unfortunately I have decided as a Christian and as a Business Owner to use only legal software on my computers, and I refuse to knowingly break any laws (and try my hardest to keep myself educated on the laws that are easy to break unknowingly). I say "unfortunately" because this means I must go return my DVDs as they do not play in my computer's DVD player. I was told I needed to purchase a DVD decoder in order to play the encrypted DVDs, but I was told this after I purchased a fairly large collection. It is also important to note that Windows based PCs and Macintosh based PCs are the only computer systems that have decoders available. This means Unix, BSD, and Linux users are left out in the cold.
I won't make this a Linux vs. the world debate, but considering the number of linux users has been nearly doubling each year, it does not make sense to prevent users from playing encrypted DVD video on this platform.
If you live in a country that allows you to break the encryption on DVDs for the purpose of viewing them, you can download various open-source DVD decryption libraries that are a sinch to install. Unfortunately, United States law prevents me from doing this on my laptop, because that wouldn't be fair to the company I paid so I could watch the movie they produced.
The only solution I see is for DVD decoders to be freely available for every operating system that supports DVD video playback, or to remove encryption altogether. And if we are removing encryption altogether, we might as well offer downloads for at least the 3 most popular Operating Systems.
By moving to a more standardized approach of media content distribution, we will be able to realize the technology corporations are struggling to support today, but without the headaches caused by DRM, proprietary encoding, and lack of respect for Fair Use rights in many countries.
Some interesting facts to think of while watching the media drool over new, yet proprietary, technology:
The encoding methods used to create DVD video has been surpassed by not only proprietary video encoding methods, but also by open-source and freely available encoding methods. XviD has better compression rates than DVD video while maintaining better video quality, and is free to use on any system, including future set-top players.
Plasma TV's have fewer horizontal scan lines than standard television sets. While they have larger surface areas, look nice and thin, and have better viewing angles than other large-screen TVs, they still technically have worse resolution and therefore worse quality than a standard $150 television.
Flat pannel computer monitors that reach resolutions of up to 1280x1024 are now available for less than $250 while most "HD-ready" sets are not even able to completely support the 1280x720 HD standard. A new standard, 1920x1080 is being pushed, and with high-end HD plamas reaching closer to 768 lines, the end result is a 1920x1080 image shrunken down to fit into a 1366x768 screen. That means some pixels are completely lost, but not an even number, so while it may not be overly obvious, you will be missing some of the picture on the $4,000 50" plasma when a $400 22" CRT monitor could accurately display up to 2048x1536.
If more money were spent on usable computer formats, we could start downloading movies at higher than current "High Definition" resolutions and play them on truly high resolution computer monitors (that could easily be expanded to a more enjoyable 42" if the demand presented itself). In the future, I see very few electronics being without standard computer parts, especially entertainment centers which are already seeing PCs as a valid source of media. Why pay a monthly fee for television shows on demand when you can purchase the show for $2 on iTunes the day after it comes out?
Why purchase a 1280x720 HD DVD that requires a decryptor, when current computers support much higher resolutions that don't requre extra software?
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