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Most Versions of Windows Banned From Sale in China Because of Two Fonts
The Next Room Eavesdropping Device Is Way Better Than a Drinking Glass
Coke Zero Has Zero Calories and Sugar, But Is High In Spy Cameras
China Accuses Google of Unfair Censorship
Toilet Waterfail
The Dark Sword UAV - Chinese Knockoffs Can Be Better Than the Real Thing
Mini MP3 DV Cam Gives The iPod Shuffle Video Capability
$3 Million In Click Fraud Over Two Weeks? Just The Beginning
One China, Three Stories
China Completes 3D Map of the Moon, Gets a Bit Nearer to Red Moon Dream

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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
11/19/09

In reply to Most Versions of Windows Banned From Sale in China Because of Two Fonts
Give 'em a couple of weeks. They'll whip up a knock-ff version of Windows (if they haven't done so already)...
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blash
11/19/09

In reply to Most Versions of Windows Banned From Sale in China Because of Two Fonts
Wait, MS still sells Win 98 SE in China?
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Red_Flag
11/19/09

In reply to Most Versions of Windows Banned From Sale in China Because of Two Fonts
具有中国特色的知识产权

Intellectual property rights with Chinese characteristics...
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Jacubious
11/19/09

In reply to Most Versions of Windows Banned From Sale in China Because of Two Fonts
I was going to (try to) bust out something witty in Mandarin, but this computer doesn't recognize pinyin and I don't have permissions to make it work. That makes me a saad panda.
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Red_Flag
11/19/09

@Jacubious: Can you use Google pinyin, or are you locked out of application installation?

[www.google.com]
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Jacubious
11/19/09

@Red_Flag: It was a work computer, so definitely locked out of installations. I didn't even know about Google pinyin though (new Mandarin speaker/reader/writer), so thanks for the info!
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Red_Flag
11/19/09

@Jacubious: Some other sites/tools that may be helpful for you:

CEDICT Online Dictionary: [us1.mdbg.net]

Pablo Chinese Dictionary/Hanzi scratchpad: [ehaton.blogspot.com]

ZDT Dictionary/Flashcards: [zdt.sourceforge.net]

These should all allow you to search by English translation, pinyin or radical, and Pablo allows you to draw hanzi with your mouse.
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nerdtalker
11/19/09

In reply to Most Versions of Windows Banned From Sale in China Because of Two Fonts
Are these also those horrible fonts that *look* like they're from 1995?

Almost all my coworkers are Chinese and their emails are always horrible looking simply because they use this ancient font that *also* has the appropriate characters.
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Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

In reply to Most Versions of Windows Banned From Sale in China Because of Two Fonts
How ironic that China, for once, actually cares about copyrights. Considering the sheer volume of pirated copies of Windows in China, China should be grateful that MS has decided to update pirated copies and to still do anything related to China.
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drewkkake
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: I'm sure pirating of Windows is totally rampant in China, but let's be honest... SOMEBODY there is buying legal licenses. And with a population somewhere around 1.3-1.4 billion, what is Microsoft going to do? Abandon operations there? The numbers game alone dictates that MS put up with any Chinese legal shenanigans that may arise.
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Nathan Obbards promoted this comment drewkkake was starred drewkkake was unstarred

Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

@drewkkake: Apparently, in 2007, there were only 244 legitimate copies of Vista in China.

[www.newlaunches.com]

If I were MS, I would be an asshole and cause every illegal copy to self-destruct. MS by no means is required to acquiesce.
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Fractal the Meek
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: That wouldn't fly. The folks at MS hold education too close to their hearts and they know how many college term papers would get nuked.
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Poop Cooper
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: Only 244 legal copies? I'm surprised it's worth it to Microsoft to even appeal the ban at all.
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emorottie
11/19/09

@Poop Cooper: Maybe that's why they don't want to pay for the fonts if it's true that the fonts are not covered by whatever agreement ... if only 200 people will buy it anyways, what difference would it make? ;)
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Poop Cooper promoted this comment emorottie was starred emorottie was unstarred

Red_Flag
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: To be fair... that is *Vista* we're talking about, y'know.
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Poop Cooper
11/19/09

@emorottie: Good point, though I wonder how much less a court appeal costs than a font license, and how much more either costs than selling 250 copies of Windows.

I'd bet both are more expensive. I say just cash out.
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Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

@Red_Flag: Vista really isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be. This coming from someone running Vista and Snow Leopard on a hackintosh.

@JTX: They do have these things called product registration keys...

I don't disagree with your sentiment, I just think China is full of shit.
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Edited by Nathan Obbards at 11/19/09 2:39 AM Nathan Obbards was starred Nathan Obbards was unstarred

diehippiedie
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: You are absolutely correct Nathan. With 1/6 of the earth population, daily fecal production in the greater china area is in the millions, metric ton; YTD growth is about 8%, on par with its economical growth.

So I think its safe to say that China is, indeed, full of shit; and they've been full of shit for 5000 years now, literally the oldest and biggest fecal production industry on the planet earth. Anyone looking into putting up some low risk high return investment in this ancient industry, china would be your safest bet.
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Kirkaiya
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: Microsoft isn't going to cut off their nose to spite their face: they (msft) are willing to endure a fair amount of illegal copies of Windows in China, because of three main reasons;
1 - Many (if not most) of those copies are not really "lost sales" (many users would simply use something else if they couldn't use Windows for free). Brings us to...
2 - Microsoft *really* doesn't want to encourage the use of alternative, free operating systems (read: desktop Linux), which - if allowed to blossom in China's huge market - might preclude future Windows and MS Office sales there.
3 - With nearly everyone in China running Windows, most commercial desktop software (created by ISVs and developers, who generally pay for their tools - Visual Studio, SQL Server, etc) is targeted at Windows. This helps cement the "lock in".

Microsoft has been playing the "long game" in China and other lesser-developed markets for a decade, and as China's legal systems mature, and their middle-class increasingly can afford legit copies without blinking, this long-term strategy pays off. So - not much actual loss, fear of Linux, and sales of other software for the Win32/64 ecosystem ensure that it's never going to be toooooo hard to get illegal copies.
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UWAZell
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: Add to that their automotive industry which has not had an original design ever. China only cares about IP rights when it's a Chinese company asserting said rights.
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Zlati Pehlivanov
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: and you're form where?
how did you managed to define this sentence? I wouldn't repeat it. If you do not remember - 70% at least of all stock is coming from China, They are 1,5 billion, and if you want to sell them something it's good idea to make them want your product. If you were speaking Albanian (there is such country Albania on the Balkans), you will buy the windows only if it's on your own language am i right?
Not everyone is speaking English. So MS has to pay the right to use the Albanian font, if they want to translated it and display windows on Albanian. GET IT? BTW Albanian people are a lot less then Chinese.
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Edited by Zlati Pehlivanov at 11/19/09 4:43 AM Zlati Pehlivanov was starred Zlati Pehlivanov was unstarred

tekamul
11/19/09

@Zlati Pehlivanov: ...there are certainly a lot less Albanians (1/500th of China, maybe?), but I bet Albania bought more legal copies of Vista ;)

I've been a part of copyright suits in the tech industry. Nobody likes to play with China, they live by a double standard
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geowrian
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: Piracy and knock-offs are rampant in China. I would also add that your source has been heavily disputed by Microsoft - [www.electronista.com] MS claims sales were generally on par with worldwide sales, and they have the data to back it up, not the speculative sources as mentioned in the articles claiming 244 sales.

That said, businesses are where MS makes most of their money, especially in China. The 244 number is only in the first few weeks of release. It would be incredibly rare if any businesses would upgrade to Vista within that time period.
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Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

@geowrian: Eh, sorry, it was late and a quick googling. That said, piracy is rampant in China and far more illegal copies of Windows exist there than anywhere else in the world. Regardless, it does not detract from the irony of China blocking sales for IP theft.
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Red_Flag
11/19/09

@Kirkaiya: Your explanation sounds highly plausible.
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geowrian
11/19/09

@Nathan Obbards: Agreed...China' IP enforcement is pathetic. However, this isn't about China - this is about a company that wants their IP to be protected. China as a whole may be horrible, but this company should be allowed to enforce it's own IP rights as well.
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Nathan Obbards
11/19/09

@geowrian: I agree that they should be able to enforce IP rights, but they should fine MS, give money to the complainant, and be done. China really is the last country in the world that has a right to complain or enforce IP theft against foreign companies. Also, who's to say that the company isn't just trying to weasel more money out of MS when MS legally purchased rights for it for all their products? Chinese companies are shady, so I can't say who is right or wrong right now. I can, however, say China has no right to block the sale of something from a foreign company for IP theft when so many of their products are blatantly stolen.
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Zlati Pehlivanov
07:21 AM

@tekamul: oh c'mon, like the americans are not? do not be so sure about the numvber of legal copies in Albania. There is no anti internet piracy law.
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Curves
11/06/09

In reply to The Next Room Eavesdropping Device Is Way Better Than a Drinking Glass
I want exactly the opposite of this. I dont want to hear whats being said, its why I turn the radio up LOUD.
If you hear/know things, you then become responsible for them, and I dont want that burden. #nextroom
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Nick
11/06/09

In reply to The Next Room Eavesdropping Device Is Way Better Than a Drinking Glass
the walls at my old apartment were so thin i just used a dixie cup . . . to drink water. #nextroom
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met2art
11/06/09

In reply to The Next Room Eavesdropping Device Is Way Better Than a Drinking Glass
And this is exactly why Banana-Nose Maldonado always runs the tap water during sensitive conversations. #nextroom
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The Lab
11/02/09

In reply to Coke Zero Has Zero Calories and Sugar, But Is High In Spy Cameras
Seems like the whole point of hidden cameras is to hide them somewhere inconspicuous. Some one seeing this can will be likely to try and open it or recycle it. Put it in a clock. No one messes with clocks. #cokespycam
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amābō tē?「Tayler」
11/02/09

@The Lab: You know, that's a really good idea... But would the clock be up to high to get a good view of the room, or would that help it? #cokespycam
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The Lab promoted this comment

The Lab
11/03/09

@amābō tē?「Tayler」: Oh not a wall clock but a bedside clock but not an alarm clock. You just point it at the bed and
...
i just said too much huh?

#cokespycam
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SQLGuru
11/03/09

@The Lab: Not to mention that the LED (labelled 4 in the Coke Classic picture) would surely give it away in a less than bright room. #cokespycam
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Hiro-of-Shadows
11/02/09

In reply to Coke Zero Has Zero Calories and Sugar, But Is High In Spy Cameras

They're using the old Coke Zero logo. In the newer one, each letter gets thinner than the last in the real one.
Example: #cokespycam
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The Lab
11/02/09

@Hiro-of-Shadows: Good catch. Also the new logo bugs me because the typeface changes letter to letter. the "r" is very round whereas the "z" has much sharper edges. I should get back on those meds. #cokespycam
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badhatharry
11/02/09

In reply to Coke Zero Has Zero Calories and Sugar, But Is High In Spy Cameras
But the RDA for spy cameras is only one. I like to have maybe for or five coke zeros. #cokespycam
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Orgasmic-Chemist
11/02/09

In reply to Coke Zero Has Zero Calories and Sugar, But Is High In Spy Cameras
my fake coke can does not have a video camera in it. and it certainly doesn't lead to a low calorie life-style. #cokespycam
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Rejexted
11/02/09

@Orgasmic-Chemist: does it hide a plastic cooch? #cokespycam
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Orgasmic-Chemist
11/02/09

@Rejexted: Your comment doesn't even make sense. #cokespycam
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whiteknight89 still plays DiabloII
11/03/09

@Orgasmic-Chemist:

[gizmodo.com]

Yes it does. Though I do understand your confusion. Under normal circumstances, that comment would have been completely out of left field. #cokespycam
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jellotime91
10/28/09

In reply to China Accuses Google of Unfair Censorship
Pot, meet kettle. #chinagooglecensorship
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strideo
10/28/09

@jellotime91: More like the pot calling the teacup black. #chinagooglecensorship
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brodie7838
10/28/09

In reply to China Accuses Google of Unfair Censorship
A Chinese newspaper called "People's Daily". Boy, this is rich #chinagooglecensorship
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