Category: Thoughts

Netflix Player by Roku Runs Linux

roku netflix linuxThis $100 dollar wonder runs Linux. At least this is why I believe it does. By looking at their agreements we can see:

Certain components of the software included with the Roku Product are subject to separate license
terms, including “free” or “open source” software (“Separately Licensed Code”). Some of the Separately Licensed Code is licensed
under the terms and conditions of the “free” or “open source” license and is not subject to the License above or the Limited
Warranty below. As required by the terms of the relevant Separately Licensed Code licenses, Roku makes the “free” and “open
source” code provided under such licenses, and Roku’s modifications to such code, available on Roku’s website, at no charge. The
following third party software is also included.

Which does not defiantly mean that it runs Linux but:

This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit (http://www.openssl.org/).

Which also does not defiantly mean Linux, but:
With it’s small form factor and the fact that it is sub-$100 and it runs off of flash memory, I believe it does.

If this is the case, then I would love to see how to stream Netflix on a normal Linux/Mac box without having to use IE.

I believe that if they are implementing IE and Windows media formats behind the scenes that they might be infringing on some sort of License agreement with Microsoft. Which sucks.

Leave comments!!!!!!

QR(Quick Response) Codes

qrwikimessThis is an image of the first paragraph on QR Codes on Wikipedia embedded in a QR code. I made it using this page: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

“A QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional bar code) created by Japanese corporation Denso-Wave in 1994. The “QR” is derived from “Quick Response”, as the creator intended the code to allow its contents to be decoded at high speed. QR Codes are common in Japan where they are currently the most popular type of two dimensional code.” – Wikipedia

QR Codes are basically our standard bar codes, but super amp’d up so they can hold a lot more information.

Here are some examples: Continue reading “QR(Quick Response) Codes”

GNU

I was reading the book Open Source Development with CVS (here) and found a excellent rationale for open source software on page 23 :

“Traditional capitalism is based on the idea of limited supply; however, information has become a commodity in itself and is never in short supply. In fact, the ubiquity of computers and the Internet has made it possible to replicate any information effortlessly and without bounds. Even so, we still treat software as if it were a tangible object in short supply. If you copy software from somebody, you’re legally stealing it. The software industry has attempted to extend this metaphor into the information economy, artificially re-creating the economics of limited supply by creating software licenses.
There’s nothing wrong with making a living as a programmer or as a software company employee or executive. The authors of this book get part of their incomes as programmers. However, it’s nonsensical to use this profit-model. Imagine a science-fiction device that allows any sort of food or physical object to be infinitely duplicated. If somebody then tried to sell you a tire for your car, why in the world would you buy it? You could just throw your friend’s tire into the duplicator! However, you might want to pay somebody to design a new tire for you or perhaps to install the tire on your car. Or to help you when some other part of your car breaks, you might want to buy a warranty for future support. Or maybe just hire a personal mechanic.”

I tend to agree with what he is saying.

Learning Python

I just checked UPS tracking for a book I ordered. IT HAS ARRIVED!!!

Learning Python, I hope, will be the first stepping stone to me becoming a more well rounded programmer. I have started to have interest in Python(cool name) because of Ubuntu and OLPC(One Laptop Per Child). Both of these projects aim to help the world, and they depend on Python. I would love to be able to write a great application that would easily work for kids of developing countries , and/or on my operating system of choice, Ubuntu(or any Linux).

I decided to choose Python over Perl (I bought “Learning Perl” about a year ago). Creating GUIs in Python seems more intuitive, and I prefer object oriented programming(I don’t think Perl is) .

Python over Java : I wanted something more nerdy and that could integrate with UNIX better.

Python over C++: C++ is much to hard. Just compare the list structure in both languages. Also, DB work will be easier (I hope :))

So, while I’m stuck away from home until tomorrow, my book will sit on my front porch. I can not wait to get home and rip it open. :)~

Comments about “Learning Perl”

The Perl book was excellently written, and the authors deserve awards for how easy it was to read. I got through most of the book in 2 days. It just so happens that the two days had about 11 months in-between. Because the book was so good, it almost makes me feel bad about deserting Perl, but it must happen.

olpc

A few days ago One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) announced the date of there “Give 1 Get 1? campaign. I have decided that I will be giving/getting one as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity for me to help out a worthy cause and get a really sweet computer/e-book reader/conversation magnet too. Give1|Get1 HERE!

On another note– I hope by the time they start selling these things on November 12th 2007 that they will have some different color options. If having bunny ears on the thing wasnt enough, it’s got to be bright green too. : )

sitemeter

I just create an account with SiteMeter.com. They are one of the suggested WordPress site trackers. They allow me to see : where my traffic comes from, how they got there, and all other types of information. This is how I know that my traffic comes from all over the United States and all over the world! Just yesterday there were a few from the UK and Germany.

I have had a hit from almost every English speaking country in the world. That is why the internet is so sweet. Effortlessly connecting people for free. I can’t wait to see what the next few years holds.

CVS = Amazing

Concurrent Versions System(CVS) or any Version system(SVN, Bazaar, Source Safe) is the best thing for programmers ever. Using CVS, me and my friends Grant and Dallas are able to program together, apart. This helps working on a program since I have the exact opposite work/sleep schedule as both of them.

If you are working on a digital group project, I would suggest trying to set up a Linux/CVS server.