Right, there comes a point where you have to either move on, or just buy yourself a Klingon costume and go with it.

Xander ,'Same Time, Same Place'


Buffistechnology 2: You Made Her So She Growls?  

Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!


Jesse - Nov 02, 2005 7:38:17 am PST #5384 of 10003
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

I'm pretty sure I've seen "convert to pdf" in the file menu of Word on computers-not-mine. Is that because those computers have the full version of Acrobat? Is there a way for me to convert my word doc to a pdf from here for free? I can just wait until I get on a computer with Acrobat, but I'd just as soon do it now while I'm thinking about it. Thx.


Eddie - Nov 02, 2005 8:58:29 am PST #5385 of 10003
Your tag here.

Is there a way for me to convert my word doc to a pdf from here for free?

Jesse, see my comment regarding PDFCreator here:

Eddie "Buffistechnology 2: You Made Her So She Growls?" Oct 11, 2005 6:17:12 pm PDT

It creates a "printer" that you print your Word document to and it outputs a PDF. Also? Free.


Jesse - Nov 02, 2005 9:37:15 am PST #5386 of 10003
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Thanks! That totally did the trick, once I figured out what to actually download. My brief google found me places that wanted my email and/or to put a watermark on my document.


§ ita § - Nov 02, 2005 9:38:31 am PST #5387 of 10003
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

iLounge iPod accessory shopping guide.


Jon B. - Nov 02, 2005 9:48:40 am PST #5388 of 10003
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!

iLounge iPod accessory shopping guide.

106 pages!


tommyrot - Nov 02, 2005 9:57:17 am PST #5389 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Has anyone posted anything recently about Sony's new CD DRM? [link]

Information Regarding Our Artists' Music, Copy-Protected CDs and your iPod
We at ATO Records are aware of the problems being experienced by certain fans due to the copy-protection of our distributor. Neither we nor our artists ever gave permission for the use of this technology, nor is it our distributor's opinion that they need our permission. Wherever it is our decision, we will forego use of copy-protection, just as we have in the past.

Huh. But we need DRM to protect musicians and labels, right?

As odd as the story is so far, its about to get a whole lot weirder: It turns out that all Engadget (quoting Variety) notes that this DRM is not at all about making the CD immune to piracy. Instead, its part of a pissing contest between Sony and Apple: Variety writes that "the new copy protection scheme — which makes it difficult to rip CDs and listen to them with an iPod — is designed to put pressure on Apple to open the iPod to other music services, rather than making it dependent on the iTunes Music Store for downloads."

You mean to tell me that this isn't even about P2P and unauthorized downloading? How annoying is that? Sony has their panties in a bunch cause Apple has been kicking their arses all over the innovation and digital music schoolyard? So the mature response from a major global conmsumer electronics corporation is to take their ball and go home?

Not quite mad enough at Sony yet? Well, it seems that running a Sony DRMed CD on your PC will result in a Sony rootkit being installed. [link]

The entire experience was frustrating and irritating. Not only had Sony put software on my system that uses techniques commonly used by malware to mask its presence, the software is poorly written and provides no means for uninstall. Worse, most users that stumble across the cloaked files with a RKR scan will cripple their computer if they attempt the obvious step of deleting the cloaked files.

More on the Sony rootkit: [link]

There's been some recent developments in digital rights management systems (DRM) that have security implications. Some DRM systems have started to use rootkit technology. Rootkits are normally associated with malware but in this case a rootkit is used to enforce the copy control policies of audio CDs!

Bastards....


DXMachina - Nov 02, 2005 10:03:33 am PST #5390 of 10003
You always do this. We get tipsy, and you take advantage of my love of the scientific method.

Has anyone posted anything recently about Sony's new CD DRM?

Yup. Typo Boy "Buffistechnology 2: You Made Her So She Growls?" Nov 1, 2005 11:38:58 pm PST


Jon B. - Nov 02, 2005 10:06:40 am PST #5391 of 10003
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!

Moral: Don't buy CDs with copy protection technology.


Sue - Nov 02, 2005 10:06:45 am PST #5392 of 10003
hip deep in pie

Knife, MP3 player and radio tuner in one! [link]


tommyrot - Nov 02, 2005 10:10:01 am PST #5393 of 10003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Yup.

Durn it.

I swear, my memory is going - once I saw that post I remembered it.