The answer to this question is obvious: VoIP is an element of Communication, and firewalls and network address translators (NATs) are elements of Separation (NAT tends towards Obfuscation, but it amounts to the same thing). These are opposing forces: Separation constricts Communication and Communication pierces Separation. It’s like yin and yang, day and night, law and chaos. Can a leopard change his spots? Can a firewall be welcoming? Oh, you mean at the technical level? Right. None shall pass There’s
(read more...)
By Ran Arad | August 6th, 2008 | Filed under Interoperability, Standardization
Jeff Atwood for Coding Horror already mentioned the better looks of Guitar Hero 3, and concluded that presentation matters. Reading it, I concluded that he has not played the game for more than half an hour, since after half an hour you hardly see the presentation, except for when it annoys you. My favorite game at the time was the first Guitar Hero, since it was easier (I actually felt abused by GH3). Then came Rock Band. This time, a
(read more...)
By Ran Arad | June 2nd, 2008 | Filed under Standardization
There are two kinds of protocol wars: one is between competing protocols, and the other is between protocol implementations. I would like to offer a glimpse into the reasons and ways in which companies implementing the same protocol compete with each other. However, I will first need to make a small disclaimer: any example I give here is not meant to imply that any company involved has any intention of malice or foul play. In fact, I am sure that
(read more...)
By Ran Arad | March 31st, 2008 | Filed under Interoperability
