Microsoft Blesses LGPL, Joins Apache Foundation

As told on Slashdot:

Penguinisto writes "According to a somewhat jaw-dropping story in The Register, it appears that Microsoft has performed a trifecta of geek-scaring feats: They have joined the Apache Software Foundation as a Platinum member(at $100K USD a year), submitted LGPL-licensed patches for ADOdb, and have pledged to expand their Open Specifications Promise by adding to the list more than 100 protocols for interoperability between its Windows Server and the Windows client. While I sincerely doubt they'll release Vista under a GPL license anytime soon, this is certainly an unexpected series of moves on their part, and could possibly lead to more OSS (as opposed to 'Shared Source') interactivity between what is arguably Linux' greatest adversary and the Open Source community." (We mentioned the announced support for the Apache Foundation earlier today, as well.)

Well, what an odd turn of events.

Hey

You ever feel like one day you wouldn't wake up? Like one day your life as you know it would be over? I am not saying suicide, in fact anything, but...more like just death, or dying in your sleep sort of thing. I mean is it normal to think about that sort of thing? I mean I assume it is. I suppose everyone thinks about their mortalitity, but I have to ask, how much is too much? Should people be thinking about these sort of things daily, I mean not all the time, but at least at one point or another. It's complicated. What the hell. Huh, I guess I am just over thinking things. I mean we all die, its natural, its normal, but what is about death that fascinates people? Well perhaps not fascinate, but at least interests people or makes them think about it to some degree. Is it that fact that we're self aware and understand the concept of mortality. I mean do you suppose, if you think about it, most animals have no concept of mortality, do they? Although some would argue that perhaps elephants do. I mean take for instance I have a cat, do you think for one moment, he ever thinks about death, that one day he'll breath his last breath and that's that? I am going to guess no, but I really don't know. For all I know he thinks about it regularly, but obviously I can't understand him, and I don't know what he is thinking. So perhaps it is a moot point to even ask such a question. It feels better talking about this. I've been reading alot about religion, another reason I kind of bring this up. I find that people have strange ideas about the afterlife as it were, I mean some people think it is open to everyone, and others think there are exact numbers and no one else gets in at all no questions asked, I supposed I should clarify I am referring to heaven, or the concept there of. I mean the fact is pretty much all of them believe everyone is going to go somewhere, probably more likely hell or some type of pergatory, rather than heaven. Of couse, it is all a little strange, you would think that with six + billion people, more people would think similarly. I mean I understand that 1 Billion + people share one or more common religion, however, I just find it strange that there are so many divides and sects, and other things that make people lose sight of the big picture and bog themselves down on minute details. This, however, is another discussion altogether. Well, that's all for today. I think I am pretty much done for now.

Sony seen needing consistent PS3 strategy

TOKYO (Reuters) - Sony Corp needs to establish an unwavering marketing strategy for its PlayStation 3 game machine to drive growth of its console business, the head of Japanese videogame publisher Square Enix Co Ltd said.

"Sony first unveiled the PS3 as a mighty home electronics product. Then, after some badgering from game companies, it shifted the position of the console closer to a game machine," Square Enix President Yoichi Wada told reporters on Friday.

"(The future of the PS3) would be tough if its marketing strategy is not straightened up," he said.

Sony's PS3 is packed with cutting-edge technologies such as a Blu-ray high-definition DVD player and a Cell microchip, dubbed "supercomputer on a chip", making it advanced enough to be a hub of living room electronics, a high-speed gateway to the Internet, as well as a game machine.

But on the downside, these state-of-the-art capabilities drove up manufacturing costs. The basic version of the PS3 retails twice as high as Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii.

The high price and scarcity of strong game titles have caused the PS3 to lag far behind the Wii in unit sales since their launches late last year.

In a sign of changing fortunes of the two Japanese video game makers, Nintendo in June became one of Japan's 10 most valuable companies, and in doing so, bumped Sony off the top 10 list.

Shares in Sony, locked in a battle with Nintendo and Microsoft Corp for dominance in the $30 billion video game industry, closed down 1.4 percent at 5,640 yen, while Nintendo fell 1.5 percent to 52,900 yen.

Square Enix, known for such blockbuster game titles as "Dragon Quest" and "Final Fantasy", was up 1.1 percent at 3,750 yen.