Stefan Schreiber <st...@mail.telepac.pt> a écrit : > >The Android OS is "open", although not entirely: > >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_%28operating_system%29#Licensing > > > > Very closely controlled by Google, even if being based on Linux and > some (propietary) hack of Java?
Yes, developed and controlled by Google (because it owns the Android copyright...). As for Java, it is now a free software and its implementation for Android (Dalvik), is free too. Android is a big step in the right direction (as least in terms of licensing). Google is huge, but there are other free OSes based on Linux for phones and small devices, that started long before Android. Also, Ubuntu is now targeting the phone and tablet market (without using Java). > Now I don't hate Android, but what about any Linux where you can't > install your own software? This is supposedly "open"? Not entirely > open? (Laughing...) > > (Answer: "Open" for the industry, not user. ) Android is "open" for both the industry and the (tech savvy) users. We can install our own software on tons of different Android devices. Users can install free software without the Google Market app, using the F-Droid app, or manually with apk packages. > >The Replicant OS is a fork of Android, using only free software > >(except from some bootloaders and drivers): > >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replicant_%28operating_system%29 Most mainstream phones work with non-free drivers and bootloaders, but there are some phones and SoC (system on a chip) devices that are providing free drivers. My point is that it's possible to build ambisonics players using cheap technologies with free software only; there's maybe an opportunity to develop a parallel "industry" for ambisonics content and delivery (I'm being naïve and idealistic). > Well, if speaking about patents, the world's top innovators are > companies like IBM et al. Samsung files far more patents than Apple > and Google, BTW. The latters earn their money mostly via software - > patents never were decisive. True. > Don't write about supposed patent trolls if your sources are "Forbes" > etc. (This is business press, they certainly don't have any real clue > about patents.) True, I don't have a patent to write on this forum... ;-) The patenting system is crucial to the business world, so my bet is that Forbes knows enough about it. The article is citing sources. > I don't care about Apple's litigation problems. (They had many > patents cancelled, recently. I know this for sure. ) Apple is enforcing its patents as much as it can; it's scary enough. > >..."small and midsize companies with less than $1 billion in revenues > >now constitute 90% of the unique defendants in patent troll suits. > >Firms with less than $100 million in revenue represent 66% of the > >defendants." > > > > > Yeah. If everybody who comes is a "troll", you feel confirmed when > you never pay. There are a few legitimate patents, and some are even filled to protect ideas from trolls, for the public interest. Invalidating patents is of course the other way to protect public interest (see www.pubpat.org) > >..." a staggering 89% of all patents reviewed by the USPTO are judged > >either partly or wholly invalid." > > > > Patent applications, right? 11% of applications were accepted after reexamination; the patent system is a gigantic litigation industry. It drains a lot of energy. > >The "next generation surround" is anything we want, but I hope that > >ambisonics will stay patent free. > > Now, this also doesn't make real sense to me. Either the patents have > been filed in the past and stay valid, or not. Patents are expiring. Like any manufactured product with a shelf life. > To claim that the original Ambisonics patents were applied by patent > trolls is what some people would like to hear, but I beg to differ. > They weren't trolls... :-D No, they were not trolls, but their patents seemed useless. Maybe someone can explain how patents actually helped Ambisonics, and it will help in the future. > Anyway, I still have to hear which patents should apply to HOA... > (Maybe there are some, but it is better to know any real facts than > to talk about patent trolls and FUD issues at night-time....) Here's a good start for your search: http://www.google.com/search?tbm=pts&q=ambisonics -- Marc _______________________________________________ Sursound mailing list Sursound@music.vt.edu https://mail.music.vt.edu/mailman/listinfo/sursound
