|
Re: Web services are NOT freeware.
de John Corliss 01/21/2007 07:03
Beans Baker wrote:
> Frank Bohan wrote:
>> The killfiled Roger Johansson wrote:
>>> Susan Bugher wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I would say that a program which accesses a server in order to update
>>>>> your system's clock is an example of something that can do this no
>>>>> other
>>>>> way. I.e., many programs access data on a server. Sometimes this is
>>>>> necessary due to the huge amount of data that's available and-or the
>>>>> fact that it's continually changing, but sometimes the data could just
>>>>> as easily have been included with the program for storage on one's
>>>>> hard
>>>>> drive. And then of course, there are gray areas between these two
>>>>> exremes.
>>>>
>>>> Yup. . . IMO it's difficult to draw the line between Webware and web
>>>> sites that have a ton of useful information - ISTM if the site has a
>>>> database and a search engine it's Webware. . .
>>>
>>> The borderline between software and webware is becoming fuzzier.
>>>
>>> A virus program needs to be updated and fetch the latest def list every
>>> day, internet radio and tv programs need to be in contact with
>>> internet. Mail, web and news clients would be pretty useless without
>>> contact with the net, weather programs, maps, traffic information,
>>> etc..
>>>
>>> Maybe it is time to change the definition or freeware from:
>>>
>>> Software which can be downloaded and used for free on your own
>>> computer.
>>>
>>> to
>>>
>>> Software which can be used for free, no matter if it is partly executed
>>> on your own computer or/and another computer on the net.
>>
>> An excellent suggestion. Seconded.
>
> I like Roger's definition, as well. This business of trying to define
> "freeware" as a free app that either has no web involvement at all or
> only a certain amount
Amount is not the issue but rather what *type* of web involvement is
necessary.
> of web involvement but no more than can be
> tolerated by any given individual weighing in on it makes no sense at
> all to me.
As I see it, a web service is something that you access via your
browser. For example (and note that these are only cited here *as*
examples), this page:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/
or:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/cgi-bin/anim
None of the software that performs the function for you (other than your
browser) is installed on your hard drive.
Promoting such stuff in this group is thus off topic IMO
There is also an ongoing drive by Microsoft and others to slowly
'transition' everybody over from hard drive installed software to pure
web services via gray area programs. Often such programs force you to
access features that are only available *unnecessarily* via the web. The
intention of the people promoting this 'transition" is to make this
increasingly the case.
This isn't to say that some programs that access data on the internet or
usenet aren't still freeware (or near freeware.) For instance, Firefox,
Screamer Radio, Grabit, Microplanet Gravity, etc.
The point I'm trying to make is that accepting web services as freeware
is taking a step down the road towards renting software or paying a fee
each time you use it. Make no mistake about it, that's what's in store
for everybody if you buy into the "software as a service" scheme.
--
Regards from John Corliss. I don't reply to trolls like Andy Mabbett.
I'm filtering out all Google Groups posts. No ad, cd, commercial,
cripple, demo, nag, share, spy, time-limited or trial wares or warez for
me, please.