In an interview with CNET News, Gates talks about why he spent his own money to make a series of classic physics lectures available free on the Web. He also touches on Project Natal, Google's Chrome OS and more.
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The web link you provide in your article: http://research.microsoft.com/tuva when you go there with any other browser besides Internet Explorer it throws up a big error message in the middle of the screen that says in big red letters: "Sorry, your browser is not compatible" and then under that, it says "Your browser is not compatible with this web application".
I really don't think they get it. People will see through this protectionist nonsense that Microsoft does on a daily basis to people, and will cease using their products and realize the benefits of open platforms that truly promote freedom, rather than attempt to restrict it.
I'll wait for a non silverlight version myself or never watch them. The idea of MS buying up content and making it available only via their own preparatory plugin sound like the closed system, old MS I grew to hate.
Also, @aMUSICSite, how is what Microsoft is doing any different than releasing the video as an FLV or RealMedia stream? Both of those require proprietary plugins and formats.
if the linux comunity would get moonlight/mono off the ground then this wouldn't be a problem for people on linux machines to watch. so if anyone should be blamed here it's not MSFT.
"Yes, obviously it works on Silverlight supported platforms. Anyone on Linux, however, is going to get a big red **** you."
Well, you pointed out the problem right there, didn't you? And how do you want to blame Microsoft today for your choice of operating systems?
When I bought my Apple Touch, I knew that I coudln't run Windows Mobile applications on it too. Guess what, I accepted that fact and moved on. I didn't blame Microsoft for my choice.
Steve Ballmer took over because Bill was too reckless and nearly got his company sliced into three.
Bill is not the angel some think he is.
Agreed.
I even liked his response regarding Chrome OS. He very correctly pinpointed the fact that we basically know very little about it, so it's really difficult to speculate on what it means.
Obviously money can buy anything, even respect.
I love Richard Feynman! I've read many of his books.
//bob
This is simply another way to make money for Microsoft .... has nothing to do with education or saving the world.
the regular joe who can't view silverlight apps and videos on the internet will blame MSFT for pushing their proprietary technology when infact the tech is open.
Web browsers are free. The service they are providing is free. Microsoft isn't making a single dime in this.
Some operating systems cost money. Web browsers need operating systems. Moneymoneymoney.
Pssst
Sorry that everything in life can't be free. Obviously your entitled to getting everything you want for free, business models be damned.
When the majority of the country already runs Windows or Mac OS, he's doing a great service to release the free lectures to help school children learn physics in a fun way. Obviously Bill Gates wants Microsoft to do well, since he gets paid through his stock. But really, all the Linux people who complain that this is ONLY to get people to be a part of the 'Microsoft sheeple' or w.e you guys call it, I call BS. Its not too much to expect that the majority of the country that runs Windows and Mac OS will appeciate it. Not everyone feels entitled to get everything for free.
"he's doing a great service to release the free lectures"
"Not everyone feels entitled to get everything for free."
Are they free or not free? Make up your mind. Gates says they're free and want all the kudos, I say they're not. You? You can't seem to decide.
As it stands, I spend a lot of my time in Windows and have no problem accessing this but everyone is not so lucky. Excuse me for demanding that something advertised as free, is free.
Where do you draw the line? You claim this is not free because it requires an operating system that runs Silverlight. That you call a Microsoft tax. However, do you not also need a computer to watch these videos? Is that an Acer tax or Dell tax? How about the electricity to run your computer? The apartment you are sitting in while watching?
The point is, he is not charging a special fee to access these videos, hence free. The site obviously cost money to produce and the rights to the films were a cost as well. He then turns around and provides them for free, yes free, and you and others cry foul.
Microsoft doesn't respect Web standards.
That is the point of argument.
That is one reason why many do not like them.
Free != Silverlight
<video>
Ogg Theora ...
Dear Bill
Promoting your company != science or education.
Dear Gate Foundation
Tying grants to use of Microsoft Theora is unacceptable
Pity. Looked like nice lectures. I will wait till Wikimedia or Archive.org or Google make them *freely* available.
Why is Silverlight not free? Why is that lecture considered not *freely* available?
So you want it on YouTube with advertising... Is that how you define *free*?
Why is using a freely available tool like Silverlight to distribute lectures not acceptable?
What has Google or any of its founders or the CEO has done in the area of giving that exceeds what Bill Gates has done so far? So giving using MS technology is un-acceptable and not giving at all is not?
Your last paragraph is irrelvant. In no way has any comparison been made to any other company and in no way has any defense been made of any other company. Stop trying to muddy the waters by bringing in crap that is irrelevant to the point being made.
I would advise you to stop blaming others for your decisions.
Other people here have been able to get it to work with Firefox (free) on Linux (free).
Sheesh.
If you haven't installed the (also free) plugin for your platform, then you have the same complaint as people who dislike flash, PDF, and MP3 -- if you refuse to use these formats, you are the one choosing not to access this media, and it's not the publisher's fault.
Dude you are running blind, blinded with hate. Nothing you said makes any sense.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=moonlight+patents&meta=&btnG=Google+Search
Normally I would dismiss you as a troll, but I'm scared you actually believe what you're saying. In your first post, you said that eadeguzman's last paragraph is irrelevant because he brought in Google. Since the OP also referenced Google, archive.org, and wikimedia, his last paragraph is completely relevant. If thats not what you meant, you should've been more clear, but thats how I interpreted it.
As for your second post, your arguing like a 9 year old, sticking your fingers in your ears and saying 'lalalala I can't hear you'. Grow up. You link to a Google search feed from the UK, which isn't where Redmond is located, nor the Americans that Bill Gates is trying to help out. You don't explain what your saying, you just parrot it like someone who heard a fancy saying but didn't understand what it means.
The OC (like OP but for comments) referred to Google in passing due to the amount of freely uploaded content (legal or otherwise) avalable through these sites/companies. Your level of reading comprehension is worrying. Well, American education system I guess.
Second paragraph: Do the patents apply in the UK or Redmond? Does the Google search only bring up results relevant to the UK? What's your point? The result of the search is a link to a whole load of stuff about Moonlight's patent encumberment and, as I've already linked this above (if you'd bothered to read), I couldn't be arse with a proper post.
What can I say? When a whole bunch of people (one of whom has just demonstrated elsewhere that he doesn't know the difference between Java and JavaScript. Clearly a leader in his field) talk down to me I'm not inclined to be polite.
2. It's ironic that Bill Gates, who's been so much in the forefront of copy protection, product activation, IP laws, etc, should be the person to get it: Making things available within the public domain is better for the progress of man. I wonder when Gates will propose more reasonable copyright laws (say, something more consistent with patent laws in duration)?
--mark d.
The only reason to require new hoops to display video is for new advertising methods or for data mining of the viewer. Hmmm, wonder what that exe really is for.
I do have to wonder why it's okay to attack Windows for their old products but god forbid someone do the same to Apple.
Apple doesn't exactly have tons of people running OS 9 which is unsupported.
That .exe is for running Silverlight. If you don't have Flash already, you might have to go through the same experience before you can view a video on YouTube.
Always check the signature on the executable before you run it. That should keep you out of trouble.
And Microsoft doesn't exactly support XP you just get security fixes.
You may need to define what product you are referring to when you mention a "product allows drive-by downloads" as Firefox today has a zeroday vulnerability of this very issue that affects platforms it is running on.
Being quick to accuse doesn't mean accuracy.
You can also view this on a Linux system running Firefox. There's no EXE there at all. There's plenty of choices out there- it's all up to you.
Pass.
As others have noted this isn't free.
I bet his charitable work comes with a waiver that you must install Winblows Victim in your colon.
Really, beyond lame. I wonder if this constitutes bait and switch?
Shame on CNET and the author.
Free is 'free'. Free is not, "Free, but we are going to insist you be tracked, exploited and your info collected."
Ina by not pointing out the mandatory Silverlight download you are unmasked as a corporate shill.
Shame.
If you are familiar with open source, you will realize that this is free as in free beer, not free as in freedom. It still doesn't cost anything and yet is something of value whether or not you like the delivery technology.
Again, why is Silverlight not free? Do you have any reason to suspect that it's tracking you information and using it for profit? Does it have advertising?
Google is criticised plenty. This is no an article about Google. This is an article about MS.
No but god damn we should call Google out on something.
Google is never criticized at all. MS can being minding their own damn business and still get people bashing it.
"Gates foundation gives away 5 billion for aids research"
Troll chimes in oh they just trying to get support for Microsoft.
I mean as if its so hard to comprehend them doing something nice just for the sake of being nice get out of the basement MS is not the evil corporation you think it is.
completely open source including anonsvn access.
have a nice day....
I'm not a gigantic fan of the microsoft business model. But I have to be realistic. Everything that I have done in my career have been influenced by microsoft and all the nice things I have and the good job I currently hold has some link to windows.
It would appear you have other issues beyond a misunderstanding that will need to be addressed separately.
"Pass"
Your loss.
@odubtaig:
Nice way to try changing the subject to avoid having to address the issue. Excellent! You are representing your group perfectly. :) Your comparison of online web browser plugins to committing crimes of mugging elderly ladies is classic diversionary tactics. I had really expected something else entirely and not this brilliant move on your part.
Give it up. Your points were refuted by numerous people. Just admit defeat honorably and move on. It's not hard and you'll gain respect in the eyes of the readers. A great man can admit when he's wrong.
Go ahead and be that great man.
Don't get too excited because once you do get there, even on fast T1's, the video starts and stops every 3 seconds. The streaming quality is horrible.
I tried the video using my MacBookPro running Firefox on Comcast had no problems with the video streaming. You may want to check your connection speed and how many other people are sharing that segment which could degrade your performance.
This Silverlight site runs very good for me; no stuttering or anything for me. I'm on a rather slow DSL, with OS X and Firefox too.
the reason it should have been stated is so that the people who either have silverlight (and viewed the video with no problem) OR the people who never even tried to view the video would understand that publishing the videos is NOT a humanitarian act (as it was presented) .... it is an effort to make money.
MAKING MONEY IS FINE ! ... i love capitalism .... but let's put the cards on the table, okay?
The article is not about Flash or Silverlight... That would be a distraction to what the article is all about. It's not all about technology, you know.
Please tell me how they are making money out of this website? Just because it uses Silverlight?
Why is it considered an effort to make money?
Do you have proof that Bill & Melissa Gates Foundation is making money rather than giving it away?
Apple doesn't exactly state explicitly that you need a Macintosh system when promoting OS X in their ads, now do they? Should we attack them for the same reason? What about iPhone apps? How many of those can I run on a Palm Pre? Apple's ads for the iPhone store doesn't mention anywhere that you need to have an iPhone or Touch to use the applications.
Sheesh. I wonder if common sense is a lost cause these days.
well .... your mouth works fine, now go to work on your reading skills.
Do try to research these things properly.
the source code is available as a tarball or through anonsvn. It is not legally dubious. From Microsoft's web site:
Covenant to Downstream Recipients
Microsoft, on behalf of itself and its Subsidiaries, hereby covenants not to sue Downstream Recipients of Novell and its Subsidiaries for infringement under Necessary Claims of Microsoft on account of such Downstream Recipients use of Moonlight Implementations to the extent originally provided by Novell during the Term and, if applicable, the Extension or Post-Extension Period, but only to the extent such Moonlight Implementations are used to provide Plug-In Functionality. The foregoing covenants shall survive termination of the Agreement, but only as to specific copies of such Moonlight Implementations distributed during the Term, and if applicable, the Extension or Post-Extension Period.
If you download from Novell, source or binary, you are a downstream recipient, and are protected under Novell's Covenant. It really is that straight forward. Also, anyone that downloads while the Covenant is in place has perpetual protection.
The mono-moonlight implementation is covered under a combination of GPL, LGPL, and MIT licenses.
<http://www.go-mono.com/moonlight/>
<http://www.microsoft.com/interop/msnovellcollab/moonlight.mspx>
Ouch. You got served.
Please explain this "legal dubiousness"... What happens if I develop against or use Mono or Moonlight if I'm not a Novell customer?
Allowing this tacit violation to go on is essential to the adoption of the Linux platform right now, and I don't see open source folks losing any sleep over it and working to block unlicensed access to these codecs on Linux. So complaining that Moonlight is also encumbered with intellectual property seems a little weak.
If you're going to label Silverlight media with a big fat "proprietary" warning, make sure you add it to every MP3 podcast as well.
Well duh! Your sense of irony hasn't failed has it?
Yes Dan, I sure did, having never developed a plug-in for Firefox on any Linux system (and don't imagine Adobe provide distro-specific downloads for Flash Player for a laugh) I'm sure I'll have it up and running in... oh. It's legally suspect to get it from my own distributor if it's not Novell as well.
PATENTS!
zyxxy: I do, you don't. No guarantee it will work in anything but OpenSUSE, in fact if you don't have Mono installed at all you're hosed. There may also be minor incompatibilities which will require programming skills and familiarity with the code to sort out. If Canonical or RedHat alter and redistribute it, they're not 'downstream recipients'. In fact, I note SoftPedia, having probably got their copies of ihackintosh.com, are not covered. Nor is anyone at ihackintosh.com. By explicitly stating that certain people are exempt, Microsoft are implicitly stating that others are not. This is a veiled threat.
wanorris: What? Do me a favour. Having multiple operating systems I swap specifically into Linux sometimes to rip my CDs to ogg which WinAmp plays just fine. Don't know if anything on OS X makes it easy though (don't talk to me about that beta-stage drag-and-drop no-installer plug-in for iTunes. PITA) but as I'm not distributing them to other people, I pretty much don't care.
[CNET editor's note: Personal attack deleted.]
Last time I checked you could get OpenSuse for free. Are you going to complain about the cost of hardware now?
PS: Why do you feel the need to hurl insults in all your posts. This was a pretty decent interview with Bill Gates and one of Ina's better pieces. I can understand that with your bent of mind you still won't receive it well -- but can't you at least be civil about it?
I assume that video is viewable by 90+% of the market.
Cody
Perhaps this will inspire Google and others to do similarly and we can all benefit from that by having the information made available to everyone.
This content is not, as Gates would have it, freely accessible to all.
It seems Gates wants his head patted and his tummy rubbed but he's getting neither from me after limiting this to the already privileged.
In short? What more I want is for this to be freely accessible to _everyone_ 'cause he's not gettig a biscuit until it is.
Let me disabuse you of this notion -- he does not need your approval / respect / acknowledgement / recognition / money / anything. Every waking day he does more to better this world than you will do in your lifetime.
To quote Hamlet:
"There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy"
My point being, if FOSS is a guiding philosophy for how you think the world should work, that's fine (and it is certainly a noble philosophy). But don't expect the world to stop on a dime to implement this philosphy of yours. There are bigger things going on.
Well no, because customer means they pay, in some way or other.
You can view this video using OPEN SOURCE Linux with OPEN SOURCE Moonlight.
There's no payment at all, and no advertising. People who watch it don't have to be customers.
- now I can see the eVIL MS make a linx compatible version of Silverlight if they knew it would increase usership of the software in a significant %
I'm not certain, but I do believe Bill Gates did indeed have it out for you in person when he explicitly designed he system to not be usable by TAMAJT. In fact, part of Ina's interview had addressed this issue, but it was edited out due to nobody caring. Here's an excerpt:
Ina Fried:: "While I understand that you have made this freely available to the world on the largest possible collection of systems and resources free for the greatest possible coverage and accessability, you did hold back for support for one person. Could you expand upon that?"
Bill Gates: "Why yes, Ina, in our research, we found that we could help the entire planet out with this offering, but we did find it necessary to isolate and deny access to one person, TAMAJT. We went out of our way to design the system to make it unavailable and unusable to that person alone."
Ina Fried: "Why was that? Why take such extreme measures to target a single person?"
Bill Gates: "His socks didn't match. Enough said."
Intellectual Ventures = Microsoft's inofficial patent troll. Software patents are useless and dangerous for development and the patent system is seriously broken. Future of Office, oh, no, no, not more Open XML please.
Google's don't do evil principle still holds while Microsoft seems to believe that evil is profitable. In the end the market at large conspires against the company, with no allies except the notorious patent trolls
Et tu, Intel...
Google and HIPAA - Google does not want to conform to the healthcare privacy act because they want to sell your private healthcare information to its partner community
Google partners with CVS - CVS is already being sued for selling prescription information to partners - now they are partnering with Google to sell your medical information through Google's partner community and it's legal because Google does not conform to HIPAA
Google's opt-out versus opt-in process - they want to sell your search, browsing, and application use further digging into your privacy
Google is like any other company - they are in there to make money... they are like Microsoft in that regard. The difference however is that Google makes money off your privacy - that's not a do no evil principle.
Sure they are not hiding anything---they just steal the code from linux conmmunity and claim they have a "revolution".
Microsoft owns Windows/Office/IE/etc. Why should they open it to everyone? Why don't you open your house for everyone to look at your bedroom?
careful, he might actually like that...(and unless its a she i think i might get scared and run away)
- by jdreyer02 July 15, 2009 11:01 AM PDT
- Grr. Was all set to watch, but doesn't work with Chrome. Tried with IE6 but need to install Silverlight, which I can't do here at work.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (171 Comments)Oh well. I'll try and check it out at home. Hopefully it works on Safari on a Mac.