Picture this: You've been selling a product for several years and have made a profit from it. Now you're updating it to make it better, but you need a driver to activate the new features. You've already written and tested the driver, and it works fine. But someone comes along and offers a prize for the first person to design and test a working driver for the update. How would you respond?
This was the question that Microsoft faced earlier this month. The Kinect is Microsoft's steroid-injected version of Nintendo's Wii controller. The device emulates virtual reality by analyzing a player's movement, face, and voice. Team Adafruit, an electronics company and open source team out of New York1, offered a $3,000 prize for the hacker who could successfully write an open source driver for the device. Microsoft responded by threatening legal action, even though they probably read that they could participate in the contest if they wanted to. Here's what they had to say:
Microsoft isn’t taking kindly to the bounty offer. Bounty offered for open-source Kinect driver – “Microsoft does not condone the modification of its products,” a company spokesperson told CNET. “With Kinect, Microsoft built in numerous hardware and software safeguards designed to reduce the chances of product tampering. Microsoft will continue to make advances in these types of safeguards and work closely with law enforcement and product safety groups to keep Kinect tamper-resistant.”2
As you guessed, this fell on deaf ears. On November 10, after only three hours of work, hacker Hector Marcan took home the prize after successfully writing and testing the Open Kinect driver without using an Xbox.3 This raises a question: how do the open source laws apply since he won a prize for it?
First off, anything open source falls under the GNU GPL. Even though Marcan won the prize, he didn't copyright the code. This prevents him from making a profit from it. Therefore, his code is open to anyone who wants to use it, meaning that Microsoft could take it and implement it into their code without prosecution.
Second, to know how to write a driver, you clearly need to know the code. To get to the code, you need to hack into the system. Marcan had to hack the Kinect to see the code. He didn't have to hack into someone else's system or get the code from Microsoft (both of which are definitely illegal). If hackers wish to tamper with a computer or piece of hardware they've bought for their personal use, it's completely within their right to do so, even if it means they make a mistake and crash the system.
Third, the way he won the money makes a difference. Marcan didn't copyright the code and sell it. He won a prize for his work. The difference here is best summed up like this: Selling a product and taking place in a contest are different ways to make a profit.
This incident is important because it raises a valid point: there are no laws against tampering and hacking into a product for your own use (although doing this tends to void product warranties). Although Marcan earned money from his work, the driver remains open source and in the public domain. Microsoft would do well to accept this and just move on. If anything, I'd like to see them respond by writing a better driver of their own.
--
Works Cited:
1. About us.
2. The Open Kinect Project - THE OK PRIZE.
3. WE HAVE A WINNER - Open Kinect driver(s) released.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Big Brother Is Watching Your Internet
Imagine, if you will, a world with unlimited communication--no censorship, no restrictions. You can access any information whenever you want, whether it's obscene and violent, or helpful and full of knowledge. There would be no restrictions or bans on anything you saw on the Internet. All you need--and then some--would be there for you to access.
Funny...that sounds exactly like the experience I get on the Internet every day.
Like me, you're probably thinking that we already are free to use the Internet as we want. You're right: we certainly are. People can access what they want whenever they want it. Net neutrality wants to make sure that this doesn't change. Their goals are vague, but the general idea is to maintain a "free and open" Internet. But why bother with net neutrality when things are fine the way they are? Because it's all about business. The Washington Post gives us a theory about what a world without net neutrality will be like:
Without net neutrality, the Internet would start to look like cable TV. A handful of massive companies would control access and distribution of content, deciding what you get to see and how much it costs. Major industries such as health care, finance, retailing and gambling would face huge tariffs for fast, secure Internet use -- all subject to discriminatory and exclusive dealmaking with telephone and cable giants.1
Let's take the article's writers at their word--that companies are planning to censor their content and stratify their services. But how will net neutrality help? What will it accomplish? Media Matters for America gives us a response:
Right-wing media have falsely claimed that the net neutrality principle supported by the Obama administration is an attempt by the government to control Internet content. In fact, net neutrality does not mean government control of content on the Internet; rather, net neutrality ensures equal and open access [emphasis added] for consumers and producers of content and applications, and is supported by a wide array of groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Christian Coalition of America.2
Again, let's take them at their word. If net neutrality will ensure "equal and open access," then who will ensure that this happens? How will they ensure it? If the ISPs and media giants can't be trusted to distribute their services and content as they choose, and if the government won't tell them what to do, then someone will still have to. You can't just tell companies how to do things; you need someone to step in, lay down the rules, and enforce the rules.
This already tells us that the government will step up to the task. They're the only entity powerful enough to do so. If the companies don't follow the rules, who can tariff them? The government. If they keep overstepping their bounds, who can subsidize them? The government. They would have the legal right to do it, and they will determine how far they're willing to go. Something as vague as "a free Internet" can mean anything, so the government's goal--whatever it may be--would have no foreseeable end.
Enforced net neutrality won't neutralize the Internet. It will neutralize businesses. To make the Internet equal, it will have to tell companies how to use their own content and services. Proponents of net neutrality say that major companies such as FOX News are "[threatening] an open Internet"3 by simply blocking content. But companies' content doesn't belong to the ISPs or the government: it belongs to the companies. As a result, they maintain the intellectual and property rights. Net neutrality would relinquish those rights. In essence, it says, "You can't do what you want with what belongs to you. Why should it belong to you to begin with?"
This was the message that the F.C.C. sent to Comcast in a court case earlier this year. Sure enough, the F.C.C.'s goal was for "a free and open Internet." But this wasn't about content; it was about services. Comcast had slowed its connection speed to BitTorrent. They didn't censor; they didn't block; they didn't charge more. They simply slowed the speed of a connection to a single file-sharing service. The court ruled in favor of Comcast, but this hasn't stopped the Obama administration from continuing to craft plans that will regulate the Internet at large.4
Net neutrality has also convinced me that's it's unnecessary at best. If proponents tell the American public to support net neutrality just to "save the Internet" and keep it free5, then they should explain exactly how the plan will work. It's not enough to say that what companies are doing is wrong, especially since major ISPs "are not currently restricting specific types of Web content and have no plans to do so [emphasis added]."6 So where's the necessity? Why do we need such a drastic measure? The answer is simple: We don't.
It seems ironic to me that if we're allowed to put up ad blockers and spam filters, companies can't choose what they want to block. It's even more ironic that the same organizations and government officials who support net neutrality aren't doing more to combat the real Internet issues that face us. If anything, they should be working toward finding and prosecuting as many Internet criminals as they can. The government is simply not capable or experienced enough to know how to run businesses or moderate the Internet.
Net neutrality is a good concept, but how you enforce it makes all the difference. When companies choose to do it on their own accord, that's their decision. But government-enforced net neutrality calls for a free Internet by telling companies how to use their services and content. The way to achieve net neutrality is to make companies' proprietary content open to government moderation; such a move opens the door to greater regulations, intrusion, and deterioration of personal rights. Someone will control the content that gets put out onto the Internet. Who will it be: the ISPs or the government? As for me, I'll vote to keep Big Brother from watching my Internet. Let the companies make their own decisions. There are simply better things for the government to do.
--
Works Cited:
1, 5. No Tolls on the Internet.
2. Right-wing delusion.
3. The ACLU is Wrong.
4, 6. Court Favors Comcast in F.C.C. 'Net Neutrality' Ruling.
Funny...that sounds exactly like the experience I get on the Internet every day.
Like me, you're probably thinking that we already are free to use the Internet as we want. You're right: we certainly are. People can access what they want whenever they want it. Net neutrality wants to make sure that this doesn't change. Their goals are vague, but the general idea is to maintain a "free and open" Internet. But why bother with net neutrality when things are fine the way they are? Because it's all about business. The Washington Post gives us a theory about what a world without net neutrality will be like:
Without net neutrality, the Internet would start to look like cable TV. A handful of massive companies would control access and distribution of content, deciding what you get to see and how much it costs. Major industries such as health care, finance, retailing and gambling would face huge tariffs for fast, secure Internet use -- all subject to discriminatory and exclusive dealmaking with telephone and cable giants.1
Let's take the article's writers at their word--that companies are planning to censor their content and stratify their services. But how will net neutrality help? What will it accomplish? Media Matters for America gives us a response:
Right-wing media have falsely claimed that the net neutrality principle supported by the Obama administration is an attempt by the government to control Internet content. In fact, net neutrality does not mean government control of content on the Internet; rather, net neutrality ensures equal and open access [emphasis added] for consumers and producers of content and applications, and is supported by a wide array of groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Christian Coalition of America.2
Again, let's take them at their word. If net neutrality will ensure "equal and open access," then who will ensure that this happens? How will they ensure it? If the ISPs and media giants can't be trusted to distribute their services and content as they choose, and if the government won't tell them what to do, then someone will still have to. You can't just tell companies how to do things; you need someone to step in, lay down the rules, and enforce the rules.
This already tells us that the government will step up to the task. They're the only entity powerful enough to do so. If the companies don't follow the rules, who can tariff them? The government. If they keep overstepping their bounds, who can subsidize them? The government. They would have the legal right to do it, and they will determine how far they're willing to go. Something as vague as "a free Internet" can mean anything, so the government's goal--whatever it may be--would have no foreseeable end.
Enforced net neutrality won't neutralize the Internet. It will neutralize businesses. To make the Internet equal, it will have to tell companies how to use their own content and services. Proponents of net neutrality say that major companies such as FOX News are "[threatening] an open Internet"3 by simply blocking content. But companies' content doesn't belong to the ISPs or the government: it belongs to the companies. As a result, they maintain the intellectual and property rights. Net neutrality would relinquish those rights. In essence, it says, "You can't do what you want with what belongs to you. Why should it belong to you to begin with?"
This was the message that the F.C.C. sent to Comcast in a court case earlier this year. Sure enough, the F.C.C.'s goal was for "a free and open Internet." But this wasn't about content; it was about services. Comcast had slowed its connection speed to BitTorrent. They didn't censor; they didn't block; they didn't charge more. They simply slowed the speed of a connection to a single file-sharing service. The court ruled in favor of Comcast, but this hasn't stopped the Obama administration from continuing to craft plans that will regulate the Internet at large.4
Net neutrality has also convinced me that's it's unnecessary at best. If proponents tell the American public to support net neutrality just to "save the Internet" and keep it free5, then they should explain exactly how the plan will work. It's not enough to say that what companies are doing is wrong, especially since major ISPs "are not currently restricting specific types of Web content and have no plans to do so [emphasis added]."6 So where's the necessity? Why do we need such a drastic measure? The answer is simple: We don't.
It seems ironic to me that if we're allowed to put up ad blockers and spam filters, companies can't choose what they want to block. It's even more ironic that the same organizations and government officials who support net neutrality aren't doing more to combat the real Internet issues that face us. If anything, they should be working toward finding and prosecuting as many Internet criminals as they can. The government is simply not capable or experienced enough to know how to run businesses or moderate the Internet.
Net neutrality is a good concept, but how you enforce it makes all the difference. When companies choose to do it on their own accord, that's their decision. But government-enforced net neutrality calls for a free Internet by telling companies how to use their services and content. The way to achieve net neutrality is to make companies' proprietary content open to government moderation; such a move opens the door to greater regulations, intrusion, and deterioration of personal rights. Someone will control the content that gets put out onto the Internet. Who will it be: the ISPs or the government? As for me, I'll vote to keep Big Brother from watching my Internet. Let the companies make their own decisions. There are simply better things for the government to do.
--
Works Cited:
1, 5. No Tolls on the Internet.
2. Right-wing delusion.
3. The ACLU is Wrong.
4, 6. Court Favors Comcast in F.C.C. 'Net Neutrality' Ruling.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Careers in the Linux field
As you read this post, you can look back on your experience with Linux and be proud. More than likely, you've got plenty under your belt to know your way around it. Maybe you're a hacker who wants to take his knowledge of Linux into the workforce. You're likely hoping for an opportunity to do what you love regardless of the recession. But no matter what, the question is the same:
"Where do I go?"
Thanks to Google—whose servers run on Linux, in fact—finding jobs is easier than ever before. Here are a few to consider.
If you don't have a master's degree yet and don't have any experience as a software engineer, a job with Hughes Network Systems may be the ticket. You will need to know object-oriented programming, C or C++, and Linux. The job ultimately needs a knowledge of wireless and satellite communications; it's not required, although it's a great thing to have. The full profile is available at the link below.1
If you prefer to stay local *raises hand* and enjoy skiing, rodeo, and skydiving *lowers hand*, then you can work with Linux here in town. Bally Technologies in Las Vegas is offering a senior firmware engineer position in their Reno branch. You'll likely need a master's for the job, but if you know a great deal about Linux and programming in general and have been using them in the gaming industry, your résumé will probably win them over if you have a bachelor's.2
Panasonic Cloud Entertainment in Cupertino, California, is offering a senior Linux administrator position. It, too, focuses on online gaming and other Internet multimedia. It requires a lot of of experience in multiple fields, especially in Linux and its workstations and servers. Plus, you'll need a high level of experience in Windows and Mac OS.3
Along that same line, there's an IT position that requires knowledge of the Linux servers. It's all about data storage and backup, and it requires at least four years of supporting Linux technology. If you get the position, they'll keep you on for six months before giving you a permanent position. The company is CTI in Crofton, Maryland.4
Citadel Group out of Chicago is offering a position that lets you work with VMware and Perl. They require at least four to five years of experience in computer engineering, and they'll look for people who've taken their skills to the workplace. But it needs a bachelor's degree, so if you're still in school, you can work and study. Of course, you'll need to know a lot about VMware and Perl, and be sure to keep up to speed on Linux's Red Hat Advanced Server. But if you get the job, they'll cover your relocation. Plus, you won't have to leave Chicago (I've heard that their pizza is awesome), and you get to work with Linux experts from across the globe.5
If you're looking to hit the big-time, Intel Corporation in Oregon has got some positions to consider. A lot of their emphasis is in programming: they're looking for engineers and software developers that know C and C++. If you've got a bachelor's degree, strong programming skills, and a name in the Linux community, you'll still need a lot of experience. Click the link below to find out more.6
The Linux field has a lot of career opportunities, even as the recession continues. They require a lot of skill and expertise, but they're out there. Who knows? One of them could just be the dream job you're looking for.
--
Works cited:
1. Entry Level Software Engineer.
2. Sr. Firmware Engineer Jobs.
3. Senior Linux Administrator Job at Panasonic Cloud Entertainment Company.
4. Linux Systems Administrator Jobs in Crofton, Maryland - CTI.
5. Linux Engineer with VMware and Perl Jobs in Chicago, Illinois - Citadel L.L.C.
6. Intel Corporation.
"Where do I go?"
Thanks to Google—whose servers run on Linux, in fact—finding jobs is easier than ever before. Here are a few to consider.
If you don't have a master's degree yet and don't have any experience as a software engineer, a job with Hughes Network Systems may be the ticket. You will need to know object-oriented programming, C or C++, and Linux. The job ultimately needs a knowledge of wireless and satellite communications; it's not required, although it's a great thing to have. The full profile is available at the link below.1
If you prefer to stay local *raises hand* and enjoy skiing, rodeo, and skydiving *lowers hand*, then you can work with Linux here in town. Bally Technologies in Las Vegas is offering a senior firmware engineer position in their Reno branch. You'll likely need a master's for the job, but if you know a great deal about Linux and programming in general and have been using them in the gaming industry, your résumé will probably win them over if you have a bachelor's.2
Panasonic Cloud Entertainment in Cupertino, California, is offering a senior Linux administrator position. It, too, focuses on online gaming and other Internet multimedia. It requires a lot of of experience in multiple fields, especially in Linux and its workstations and servers. Plus, you'll need a high level of experience in Windows and Mac OS.3
Along that same line, there's an IT position that requires knowledge of the Linux servers. It's all about data storage and backup, and it requires at least four years of supporting Linux technology. If you get the position, they'll keep you on for six months before giving you a permanent position. The company is CTI in Crofton, Maryland.4
Citadel Group out of Chicago is offering a position that lets you work with VMware and Perl. They require at least four to five years of experience in computer engineering, and they'll look for people who've taken their skills to the workplace. But it needs a bachelor's degree, so if you're still in school, you can work and study. Of course, you'll need to know a lot about VMware and Perl, and be sure to keep up to speed on Linux's Red Hat Advanced Server. But if you get the job, they'll cover your relocation. Plus, you won't have to leave Chicago (I've heard that their pizza is awesome), and you get to work with Linux experts from across the globe.5
If you're looking to hit the big-time, Intel Corporation in Oregon has got some positions to consider. A lot of their emphasis is in programming: they're looking for engineers and software developers that know C and C++. If you've got a bachelor's degree, strong programming skills, and a name in the Linux community, you'll still need a lot of experience. Click the link below to find out more.6
The Linux field has a lot of career opportunities, even as the recession continues. They require a lot of skill and expertise, but they're out there. Who knows? One of them could just be the dream job you're looking for.
--
Works cited:
1. Entry Level Software Engineer.
2. Sr. Firmware Engineer Jobs.
3. Senior Linux Administrator Job at Panasonic Cloud Entertainment Company.
4. Linux Systems Administrator Jobs in Crofton, Maryland - CTI.
5. Linux Engineer with VMware and Perl Jobs in Chicago, Illinois - Citadel L.L.C.
6. Intel Corporation.
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