- Free-software-melb - lists.softwarefreedom.com.au

(Off-topic) Fwd: Protect the Astor Cinema
by Patrick Sunter 12 Jun '12

12 Jun '12

Hi guys, a bit off-topic, but since the Astor Cinema's struggles with DRM's digital film was a major topic of last month's FS-M meetup, some might be interested in a 'save the astor' get-together they're having this Saturday: http://www.astortheatre.net.au/sessions/2012-06-16-1200 If you wanted to have a chat with them about the problems of DRM as suggested, could be a good chance to show some solidarity ;) -- Pat S.

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Re: [free-software-melb] Draft Fedora plan to cope with Secure Boot on x86 hardware
by Jean Elchinger 07 Jun '12

07 Jun '12

>> Meanwhile although x86 PCs are expected to have the ability to disable >> secure boot MS have decreed that in order to be certified for Windows 8 >> then ARM based systems *must not* have the ability to disable secure >> boot, thus completely blocking out all competitive platforms and >> ensuring a monopoly. With the huge growth in ARM based devices in recent >> years this is a disaster in progress. >> > >I guess. I'm not *so* worried about the ARM situation because it only >applies to Microsoft ARM devices (currently a very small percentage of the >market), whereas Microsoft has a complete monopoly on x86 devices if you >take out Apple. > >While there are a lot of new ARM devices coming out, Microsoft doesn't have >the market power to require all of them be locked down. (Of course, Apple >already requires all of their ARM devices be locked down as well -- IMHO >that's a bigger threat than Microsoft in the mobile space, and one that's >already been happening for many years.) So I guess instead of buying ARM devices certified by Microsoft, we should just buy other ARM devices like the Vivaldi Table (http://makeplaylive.com/) and I hope that in the future many other producer will do the same. But there is still the problem with the masses, we have to inform them to avoid "Microsoft hardware". Jean

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Software freedom discussions on Byte Into It, 2012-06-06
by Ben Finney 07 Jun '12

07 Jun '12

Howdy all, On last night's Byte Into It (2012-06-06) we discussed some free software topics, including developments in the Australian Attorney-General having secretive talks on copyright law, new releases of Fedora and GIMP, and VLC passes a billllion downloads. <URL:http://rrrfm.libsyn.com/webpage/byte-into-it-6-june-2012> -- \ “The idea that He would take his attention away from the | `\ universe in order to give me a bicycle with three speeds is | _o__) just so unlikely that I can't go along with it.” —Quentin Crisp | Ben Finney

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Byte Into It speaking about software freedom, 2012-05-30
by Ben Finney 31 May '12

31 May '12

Howdy all, I have been reminded to let this forum know when 3RRR's Byte Into It <URL:http://www.rrr.org.au/program/byte-into-it/> features discussions of interest to free software advocates. On Wednesday 2012-05-30, the show included discussion about ownCloud <URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OwnCloud>, its latest release <URL:http://owncloud.org/owncloud-4-release-annoucement/>, and further exploring how software freedom is affected by cloud computing. We had an interview with Senator Scott Ludlum. He is a Greens senator who has been vocal about the need for Australian federal government to protect the legal rights of Julian Assange, whose extradition hearing was yesterday – yet Assange wasn't even in the court for any of it! (Rallies this afternoon have been arranged around the world, including in Melbourne <URL:http://justice4assange.com/Action.html>.) We also talked about the resurrection of the Internet Underground Music Archive, by scraping the web to find traces of it – which couldn't be done if people respected current copyright restrictions. The show is available for download at <URL:http://rrrfm.libsyn.com/webpage/byte-into-it-30-may-2012>. -- \ “[Entrenched media corporations will] maintain the status quo, | `\ or die trying. Either is better than actually WORKING for a | _o__) living.” —ringsnake.livejournal.com, 2007-11-12 | Ben Finney

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Patentology report on Ben Sturmfels at IP Australia event on Software Patents
by Chris Samuel 26 May '12

26 May '12

FYI.. http://blog.patentology.com.au/2012/05/bickering-about-software-patents-mis… -- Chris Samuel : http://www.csamuel.org/ : Melbourne, VIC

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Re: [free-software-melb] Patentology report on Ben Sturmfels at IP Australia event on Software Patents
by Alex Fraser 22 May '12

22 May '12

Well said, Matt. On May 22, 2012 10:37 PM, "Matt Giuca" <matt.giuca(a)gmail.com> wrote: > […] If some guy from Australia > hadn't invented a way of determining when a machine is significantly > changed, chances are pretty bloody high that someone at Microsoft would > have. John Carmack has said something similar; see the third quote here: http://en.swpat.org/wiki/John_Carmack_on_software_patents Alex

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android google apps
by Brian May 19 May '12

19 May '12

Hello, There seem to be more and more places distributing these apps without any legal consequences, has Google's restrictive licensing restrictions changed? Perhaps in ice cream sandwich? Or maybe Google have stopped caring about infringements? e.g. http://www.chip.de/downloads/Google-Play-Store-APK_54923571.html http://www.android-x86.org/ - not documented anywhere but was in the android-x86-4.0-RC1-asus_laptop.iso image I downloaded. Which is odd, because the iso is built directly from the source code, yet, as expected, I don't see this apps in the source code. ClockworkMod - apparently has option to download and install these apps (I haven't checked). http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Latest_Version/Google_Apps - has links to where you can download them. This last cyanogenmod link above suggests it is fine to download them separately, just not distribute them with Android. I asked about this on the android-x86 mailing list - which ironically is hosted on Google's severs; the only response I have got so far is "ther must have been a change... German popular computzer magazine Chip also offers Google Play market apk as download:". https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!topic/android-x86/f1TWmYVjH-A So wondering what the story is? If Google had changed the licensing, I would have expected to see more about this. Thanks -- Brian May <brian(a)microcomaustralia.com.au>

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DRM and Theatres
by Brian May 11 May '12

11 May '12

http://astortheatreblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/what-happened-last-night/ -- Brian May <brian(a)microcomaustralia.com.au>

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Google Play Movies and DRM
by Brian May 03 May '12

03 May '12

For some vivid discussions, see the comments at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.videos&fea….. Some seem pro-DRM, the majority are against. Lots of people critical of restricted use if you have a rooted phone, and lots of people complaining about DRM in general. e.g.: "Rooted users can still watch rented content in their browsers on YouTube/movies. The only thing they can't do is save for offline use. This app should at least mirror the basic functionality if not the offline viewing. Plenty of normal people root their phones, not just hackers. Some people appreciate freedom, some don't understand the concept." Seems to suggest the media itself doesn't have DRM, so it "protected" by restricting where you can download it. -- Brian May <brian(a)microcomaustralia.com.au>

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Re: [free-software-melb] Free-software-melb Digest, Vol 20, Issue 13
by Jean Elchinger 29 Apr '12

29 Apr '12

> Hi, > I would like to respond to Tim about this: > *It's hard enough to find CyanogenMod users at a LUG!* > Er, that was Russell. Are you taking revenge upon Tim for earlier misattributing Russell's text to me? :p Oops, yes I'm really sorry about that Russell. I get so confused sometimes with the message digest I receive.

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