- m4p2mp4
- Slurpie – A distributed peer-to-peer downloading protocol
- Open Content Network
- Chord – scalable, robust distributed systems using peer-to-peer ideas
- Infrastructure for Fault-resilient, Decentralized Location and Routing
- PDTP – a method of transferring files using peers to aid in distribution of content, similar to BitTorrent
Ooh.
John Gruber writes a really long piece poking fun at Eric Raymond and then talking about UI design. Now, I’m all for poking fun at ESR. He needs some ego deflation. But Gruber is so off his horse talking about UIs that it’s not even funny. UI design is certainly not “an art” that “requires innate ability.” One can argue about soft factors within UX and HCI, but usability can be tested empirically and distilled into principles. At the end of the day, good GUIs have to do more with adherence to principles and guidelines and a commitment to user testing than some sort of ‘genius’ sensitivity.
Also, while I wholeheartedly agree on having strong direction for successful UIs, the notion that this is somehow casually related (as implied) on ‘closed source’ software ‘produced by full-time professional engineers’ just doesn’t make any sense. Software engineers left alone would produce just as unusable preference panels regardless of whether it’s closed or open source (also, most OSS developers *are* professional engineers). The difference in interface quality lies with the commitment and focus of *usability* engineers and designers. And even with that effort you’re still not guaranteed anything.
Obviously I agree that good HCI is hard work. Along with documentation, it is often short-changed in typical OSS projects. I’d argue that most of these projects realize this, however they typically lack the expertise not only in the areas themselves, but also in even recruiting those w/ the proper skills to contribute.
Basically, good HCI has much more in common with development (standard practices, iteration, refactoring) than with making a movie (or some ridiculous notion of the genetically gifted ‘HCI savant’).
Just blew away the last of my partitions (and my /etc/shadow and other files)and have cancelled my Rackshack server. Awful timing as I’m insanely busy, but the price to be paid for having principles. Here’s the letter I dropped:
I’ve been a loyal customer for the past two and a half years, but regretfully, will be cancelling my account.
My reason for doing so is not due to the level of service — on the contrary, I’ve been quite happy, having practically no network downtime and consistently good bandwidth — but rather, due to your unfortunate licensing deal w/ SCO.
Both for matters of principal and pragmatism (evidence has shown that businesses entering into a legal contracts w/ SCO have increased, not mitigated exposure), I’ve moved hosting providers (definitely inconvenient and something I would have rather not had to do).
Over the years I’ve made numerous recommendations to friends for using Rackshack hosting, but can no longer do so in good conscience.
(I’ve read Marsh’s letter of contrition, but perhaps that could actually be backed up by actions. Say by considering matching your contributions to SCO with a similar or great contribution to open source supporting organizations such as the OSDL, FSF, or EFF)
- newsmap – meant to post about this earlier; treemap of google news – frickin’ awesome; see also history flow; history tracking of objects, visualization
- memetic wake – recursion
Oh, ok, Google Mail has hit the newstands. So yeah. Google search for email. Good. Google mail to create a corpus for personalized search? Gooder. Now, Google Mail as foothold into rolling out digital identity and relationship management?
Like the browser and the operating system wars before it, the search wars is the latest iteration of what comes down to a battle for platform domination. Will the contenders be able to overthrow the reigning champ?
It’ll be fun to watch. Maybe more fun to participate?
* This is all analysis based on speculation and observation. I don’t have any proprietary information here (which is why I’m tossing this online).
[obsessing over ads in email is missing the forest for the trees]
- Save RTSP video streams to a file – sorta works, but audio loses sync
Sometimes it’s easy to get inured to all the lying that goes on and chalk it up to ‘politics,’ but then some things make your realize that no, it’s still really wrong, especially when these people have been given power and entrusted with great responsibilities:
Rice said in a TV interview that she wants to testify publicly, but is constitutionally barred from doing so, a senior administration official said Sunday afternoon, before the program aired. Rice also said in the “60 Minutes” interview that she wants to meet with family members of the Sept. 11 victims, to hear their concerns, the official said.
Jeez, constitutionally barred? Have they even read this document (well, we know Ashcroft doesn’t care about it)? And for their information NSA Sandy Berger testified while serving back in ’97.
Hmm, China blocks Typepad – they still haven’t learned that true control is most effective when everyone is free to say and read whatever the heck they want but that no one listens or can be bothered to do anything. Also, some good points.