Activity for November 17

Comment - The Internet can still be a positive force, World Wide Web Foundation says
(Nov 17, 2009 - 11:36 AM)

Don't take his comment on face value. I caDon't take his comment on face value. I can clearly understand what he meant. Specially those that had access to the web back in the day.
What he is refering to was a line of thinking or filosofy that many shared when the net was in its infancy.
Back in those days there was no censorship, the major media still didn't have a hold on the internet so it was a good source for unbiased information, there was little governmental insight, basically there was little interest in this way of communication.
So when Walsh mentions the "money" issue it's just that the increasing economic interest on the internet makes the net less "free" and looses some of its hability to bridge people.

One example is that back in the day you really had ONE internet because really there were no laws governing it. Nowadays governments, companies and so on have started to put digital frontiers.
What I think Welsh means is that the web connected people but didn't necessarly make people communicate with people outside the usual bounds.
The Internet as a world wide communications system can put a guy in in Moscow talking with someone in Brazil.
But I bet this doesn't happen very ofter. The Internet connected people but We still need to break the geographical/cultural barrier.
And this was the real potential for the web. The more people comunicate the less different they look towards each other.
Yes this is a phylosofical message but it was on many people minds back in the day when all this was new. n clearly understand what he ment.
Comment - European ministers approve watered-down 'neutral net' language
(Nov 11, 2009 - 6:43 AM)

I understand your view but try to think further down the road instead of the recent past.
Also take into count that fundamental rights or how they're "implemented" vary from nation to nation. For instance right to an education or access to electricity and water are globably interpreted as fundamental rights. But if you think about it, education wasn't always a given right. Nor was electricity. Usualy something may become fundamental when in a democratic society signs start to show that the lack of "something" can lead to a big disadvantage towards others. The problem were now having is that there is pressure to pass legislation in the US and EU to ban a person of the ability to access the Internet due to infregement of copyright laws. Imagine if you will, that by law you couldn't access the web anywhere. The question is.
Has the Internet become or is turning into something as essential for human development as education and electricity?
And to tell you the truth, I think it is. Let me explain. The overwhelming number of services that are being tied to the Internet, the vast amount of information you can access that alone gives anyone a big advantage towards those that have no access to it. A great example is seen in societies with poor democratic values and that consider the Internet more of a problem than an opportunity and in fact that only the priviliged have access to it.
More and more access to the internet be it in your library, your school, your mobile phone or whatever is becoming an essential part of your daily life not only to keep connected to other people but also to remain competitive.
Comment - PS3 Netflix: The best use of BD-Live yet
(Oct 27, 2009 - 12:09 PM)

The Netflix exclusivity agreement is comming to an end.
This news also comes at a time where Netflix is now available out of box in Windows 7 Media Center for those that have HTPCs.
Good to see Netflix service becomming available in so many platforms. But it is still sad that this type of services aren't available in Europe.
Comment - Windows 7: Vista without the crap
(Oct 21, 2009 - 7:24 PM)

Just like the reporter adviced. Get Windows 7. Yes it's the "new" XP of today. And as time passes by you'll be more and more dependent on it. DLNA support is one of those things that simply works out of the box. A lot easier to setup a network. A lot easier to get where you want. For instance the new "run" box so to speak starts searching for what you want while you type. That alone has cut a lot of the time to launch an application I want. The "All programs" section is still useful but once you get used to that run boxed you'll see your productivity rise. Plus stuff like tiling your windows side by side. Just drag one to the left, the other to the right and each will fill half of your screen. Things like libraries that simply make a lot more sense. Wherever you have your music, videos, documents you can configure the library to index files in different locations. You still have your standard music, videos, documents directory, but libraries simply bring media organization to today's standards. There are so many little things. If you have one of the top tier versions you'll have the new remote desktop that supports DirectX. Basically now you'll be able to have some sort of 3d acceleration in remote desktop. Aero looks, media center all work. You can watch video with a remote desktop if you have the bandwidth. Heck you can have your media center in the living room or wherever, and if you have the connection speed, you can connect remotely and stream your media via remote desktop. The system is extremely stable. Yes some hardware manufacters may not release the drivers for some legacy hardware for Windows 7, but most of the current hardware will work out of the box. Well I think my excitement is proof of a happy user
Comment - Study: Cable/telco competition brings North America slowest, costliest broadband
(Oct 18, 2009 - 12:47 AM)

Think about one thing people. 10 years ago the US had some of the best internet connections in the world. Right now it doesn't. It is as simple as that. Despite that it is probably the top internet based services provider in the world. Or at least US based companies are the top providers. But the market shows that you tend to deploy your services where it is cheaper. If the US continues to go on this route services will start to migrate to other nations.
We may or may not agree with the policies being taken, but what I stated above is happening right now.
Second point. Some think that having some kind of market regulation turns a nation into socialism. Wrong. Any nation that runs on a HEALTHY capitalist system requires some measure of regulation or else in certain markets a single company will take control and destroy all competitors becoming a monopoly and having the muscle to deny access of any other company in that market. Another example. Imagine that the food industry didn't have regulations imposed by government institutions to follow. What would happen is that in order to get a higher profit, the industry would start selling people rotten potatoes. What were talking over here is the ability of certain companies in the industry to monopolize their market in such a way that the market freezes. Were talking about how the Internet hasn't evolved that much in the US. But the thing is this topic is directly connected with the Net Neutrality debate. It is once more proof that Teleco companies aren't helping the US to progress. And the all debate regarding Net neutrality is one more proof of that. This companies need to become accountable for their actions.