taken from: MLGPro’s Forums

Reports are trickling through this evening that Sony has indeed lost its patent case against Immersion technologies and will be forced to halt sales of its PS2 console.

Immersion last year sued Sony for infringing on its patents. Immersion claims that it owns the technology that powers the rumble in Sony’s Dual Shock controllers. It also sued Microsoft for its rumble features in the Xbox, but the boys from Redmond settled out of court.

Sony fought on, and lost a case last year. However, it’s been allowed to continue selling the PS2 pending appeal. If the latest reports are verified, it’s lost that appeal today.

This means that Sony not only has to pony up and awful lot of cash to Immersion Technologies, but it has to stop infringing on the patent – that means stop selling kit which includes Dual Shock technology, and that means pulling the PS2 off the shelf.

Commentators are wondering if this case is the reason for the PS3 controller redesign that we’ve seen – it’s possible the horrendous boomerang monstrosity doesn’t infringe on patents.

Interestingly, Immersion is owned in part by Nintendo. The next-generation battle just took another twist…

Love the Dual Shock? Can’t believe Sony will pull PS2 from the shelves? What exactly is Nintendo’s game here, letting Microsoft settle and taking Sony to the cleaners? Let us know your speculation over in the forums, and we’ll try to back up the reports we’re seeing.

Read More @ MLGPro’s Forum

What will Sony do if they do not have a console? They might be in trouble…

Andrew

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Last night we played the usual poker game. I was playing the usual tight; tight; tight play. I did buy a couple of pots. They do not know that though. I also had at least 11 pocket pairs. I thought I was playing good and then… then I had no good hands. I folded 9 hands in a row… Seriously… 9 hands…

Later on in the night, Brian and Mike were giving me shit about how tight I play. I think they were getting mad because I was getting nothing. I am sorry but 9,3 off is not a good hand to play 3 players. I was getting shit and FINALLY I got a couple if good hands and played them. I won a couple of pots and then bluffed 3 times in a row and stole the blinds. I finally was heads up against Brian. I decided whatever and went all in. I had k,q; hearts. I thought it was a good hand to double up on… He flips over a10 diamonds. He hits his ace right away and I am knocked out.

What have I learned from playing last night. Nothing… I only to lie more about the crappy hands… I think I might start that. 🙂

Andrew

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I just read this REALLY GREAT article on how to speed up windows. Check it out!!

10 Intermediate Ways to Speed Up Windows.

AWESOME!

Andrew

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I just found this awesome website that has a list of GREAT open source files. Check out their site:

http://www.opensourcewindows.org/

Please support these mofos!

Andrew

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taken from: Tech Dirt

The MPAA says that international box-office revenues fell nine percent last year, and as usual, piracy gets portrayed as the biggest villain, with camcorders singled out this time. MPAA boss Dan Glickman (who apparently really likes to sing) urged the attendees of a movie theater trade show to petition their local governments to strengthen anti-piracy measures — perhaps hoping to get them to emulate California and make it a crime to bring a camcorder into a theater — rather than really encouraging them to do things that might actually help, like changing the way they do business. Of course, the theaters themselves aren’t blameless, either, and in some ways have as bad a case of denial as the studios about why people don’t want to go to the movies any more. It’s still easier to just blame people downloading movies for the industry’s decline, rather than try to figure out why people are downloading movies instead of paying outrageous costs to watch bad films.

taken from: Tech Dirt

FINALLY; someone who knows what they are talking about.

Andrew

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Taken from DetNews.com

Company makes plans to move away from prepackaged software and into web-based applications

written by Charles Piller / Los Angeles Times
As the Internet transforms the way people use computers, Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates has a message for the world’s biggest software maker: adapt or die.

“We must act quickly and decisively,” Gates wrote in an Oct. 30 memo to Microsoft executives. “The next sea change is upon us.”

In the four months since Gates put his company on notice, the maker of the Windows operating system and Office productivity suite has embarked on a restructuring no less significant than its adoption of the graphical, mouse-based user interface 20 years ago or its embrace of the Internet a decade later.

This time, Microsoft wants to diversify away from pre-packaged software and toward Web-based services that provide steadier, faster-growing income streams. In this vision, users would lease access to online software or use services in exchange for putting up with on-screen ads.

Gates warned his lieutenants that every part of the company would have to embrace the new market realities: “This coming ‘services wave’ will be very disruptive.”

The pressure is on. Microsoft’s sales grew 8 percent last year, a precipitous slide from the 49 percent annual growth rates of a decade ago. Wall Street has greeted its vast profit — $3.65 billion last quarter alone — with a yawn. The company’s stock has stagnated for three years.

By contrast, rivals such as Google Inc. pull in billions of dollars for ads on free Web-search pages. Salesforce.com’s leased sales-and-marketing software has given it revenue and profit growth above 65 percent . Apple Computer Inc. recently announced that it had sold the billionth download for the iPod, which has become the company’s biggest revenue source.

“Microsoft hates the services business,” said Jeffrey Tarter, executive director of the Association of Support Professionals. “If they can’t solve the services problem, they’ll gradually begin to see themselves drifting into a backwater.”

But to embrace the next big thing, Microsoft risks further slowing the most prolific cash machine in software history and forcing product managers to take huge risks that could alienate customers.

“You have to mobilize everybody and get them to give up their private interests,” said a longtime competitor who asked not to be identified. “It’s like when a nation goes to war.”

Not even Gates knows whether his company — with 60,000 employees in more than 100 countries and $40 billion in annual revenue — is still nimble and aggressive enough to reinvent itself.

A generation of investors has gotten rich betting that Microsoft would steamroll competitors despite constantly playing catch-up on key technologies. The company that touches nearly everyone on the planet who uses a computer knows how to move trends in its favor.

In the late 1980s, the old command-line interface on which Microsoft built its initial fortune was waning. Windows was regarded as a clunky joke compared with the graphical interface pioneered by Apple’s Macintosh computer. Gates marshaled his forces. Microsoft powers more than 90 percent of the world’s computers; Apple, less than 3 percent.

In 1995, Microsoft was caught off-guard when Netscape Communications’ Navigator browser became the instant leader on the nascent Web. Gates and company countered with Internet Explorer. A few years and antitrust trials later, Netscape was out of business.

Gates has now set his sights on Web services..

more @ DetNews.com

This is VERY interesting… I would read the full article.

Andrew

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Riverman –

The game was fuckin awesome!!! I just wish they would have got the shutout. With 17.5 seconds left, Columbus scored 1 goal. No shutout tonight. It was a good game. I should have had a beer or two.

Storms –

I do not mind storms, but I heard the “T” word. I am scared of Tornado’s. I am up now listening to the wind… I love thunderstorms, snow, and rain. I do not like wind, ice, and Tornado’s. I hope the sounds go away.

Andrew

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Believe it or not, but I wanted to get married today. I thought it would be kewl to get married and have the organist play “Fuck the Bullshit”. Ok… I would have played “Lucky”. Any ways, I am just glad we did it in November.

RIVERMAN TOMORROW BABY!!!

Andrew

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Guess what I am going to be playing again this month? World of Warcraft!!! I will give out more information when I start it up again. I really do miss playing at night. Time to play some Fight Night Round 3 now.

Andrew

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Brett Leasure… Just download the Video…

Sorry dude. I can tell you were drinking, but this video is funny!

DOWNLOAD THE VIDEO

Andrew

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taken from taproot’s my space Blog

***WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU***

We’ve been getting a lot of messages from people
letting us know how much our song “Birthday” means to
them, how it reminds them of a past relationship, or
the loss of a loved one, or hope for the return of
someone who is special to them. We are putting
together a compilation of these stories, and we are
asking for your help. We would like to hear from you,
not only why “Birthday” touches you, but more in depth
about the person/people that the song brings to mind.
The more we get from you, the more we have to work
with to really do something special. Feel free to send
in stories and pictures, and please leave contact info
so we can stay in touch and let you know the progress
of our project. Let your friends know about this too,
we want to hear from everybody. Thank you.

Please send stories to taproot_tribute@yahoo.com

taken from taproot’s my space Blog

Please send Taproot your stories about “Birthday”. I know I will!

Andrew

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I am in no way a fan of John Cena… This video makes me laugh:

John Cena and his best move…

I knew you was horrible, but this sealed the deal!

Andrew

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taken from: Gamers Report

What are the long-term ramifications for the league?
Barring a new CBA, the players either will be on strike or the owners will lock out the players in 2008. The union likely will decertify, and antitrust rules will apply. Also, the NFL draft will go away in 2008 as part of a clause inserted in the current CBA. Players coming out of college could be free agents, with no salary restrictions. Open negotiations, including those for rookies coming out of college, will leave it to the players to get what they can get.

Now, pay attention, cause this is a bit complicated. The current problems in the NFL between the league and the players association might make the EA/NFL contract void. This is because if the union decertifies, then anti-trust rules will apply. If this happens, then EA is out of luck. Antitrust laws would be in effect and the contract would be voided. (EA signed a deal with both the NFLPA and NFL so at the least, other companies could use the players, but not the actual team names. Not a big deal really, since we know who they would be referring to.)

Just to recap, the NFLPA may decertify itself in order to keep a lockout from occuring. This in essence will make antitrust laws apply. The NFLPA will decertify if no agreement is reached to extend the CBA. Keep an eye on this people, we know it is a lot of “ifs” but stranger things have happened. Keep your fingers crossed.

Update: Since the current CBA runs until 2008, they would not de-certify until then we have been told. This means on the off chance this happens, we still have to put up with 2 more years of EA. If you want to read up a bit on anti-trust law, check it out here.

taken from: Gamers Report

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36 Crazyfists “Waterhaul”

Press skin into skin,
just a fraction to gather the senses.
Still locking in mine, design,
just a scrape to uncover the evidence.
You won’t remove me, not anymore.

So here we are, now it’s obvious.
Candle lit to divide all your areas.
And inside all your barriers,
I’m defending my lines to ignite…
And I’ll be this way forever.

Inside the locks hide,
so my faith can come outside and shine.
Besides it’s why all these miles of road won’t divide.
You won’t remove me, not anymore.

And now it’s where the secret’s pushed behind,
with the lanterns to burn this inside.
And up there A SNOW-CAPPED ROMANCE where,
everything we build will come from our eyes…
And I’ll be this way forever.

Andrew

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