DRM ...

DRM is Like Paying for Ice: An interesting comparison of DRM to the practice of filling your cup full of ice when buying a fountain soda.

Software Patent Lawsuits Against Open Source Developers

We've warned you for a decade. Now the monster has finally
arrived: attacks against Open Source developers by patent
holders, big and small.

read more | digg story

SETI Makes Alien Contact?

According to Dr. Steven Greer, yes, SETI has received multiple exttraterrestrial signals. This news he says, is confirmed by senior employees within the SETI program.

read more | digg story

I'm a little unsure of the validity of this claim, but being a long time SETI proponent I couldn't help but be intrigued by this article.

Proprietary Software and Openness

Something that has been recently bothering me about most proprietary software is that not only is the source code closed, but they tend to do everything in their power to close everything they can get away with off to the outside world. If you think of software as a house, the only way proprietary software lets you in is through the front door (and most of the time there are locks, key codes, or credit card swiper to let you in); everything else is boarded up.

This doesn't even really have anything to do with software. What I'm really talking about is the ideas ingrained in the corporate world when it comes to technology. They have this focus on opening up their systems just enough to let the end user get the bare minimum done. There is a major neglect in letting independent systems interact with theirs. And while they don't realize it they are crippling their systems. There are just so many software and hardware systems that could be so incredibly more useful if it was open to outside developers.

Cell phones for instance are a prime example. This I see is the most prominent closed market. There is so much capability that is limited by the corporate stranglehold. Everything about their 3rd party software is limited; you can only get software from their subscription service, access to developing software for the devices is expensive and inconceivable to independent developers, and I'm sure what the software has access to, like phone capabilities, is severely limited. Especially with software that is tied to hardware, there is so much more power in the hardware when it is open to independent developers.

Another example, and one that came up today and prompted this post, was the proprietary nature of digital video recorders (DVR). DVRs from Tivo and your cable company are essentially closed to everything but the remote. While DVRs like MythTV are completely open. With MythTV you can control your system from anywhere via the Internet. With Tivo and your cable company's DVR there is no such control. And while I'm sure the hardware for the proprietary DVRs are capable, none allow you to install and run 3rd party software. With MythTV you can run a web browser, instant messenger, and use your DVR just like a normal PC.

Why are all these things so closed? Their excuse may be security, additional revenue from adding their own features, competitiveness, or they may just be too scared. But in a lot of cases it doesn't have to be this way. And the only way they will change their ways is for the user community to rise up and demand it.

If they would just take an idea from the Free Software world we would all be a lot better off. They don't have to open it up completely, but there is a core value here that doesn't require them to release their so called "intellectual property" to the world. They need to try and be a little more open, it's not going to kill them.