Political Blather

[Phil Thayer]

> MP3 is a compression format, plain and simple. It's dumb, it 
> can't hold code.
> 

O.K.  I should have been much more specific about what I was talking
about.  The device that I called an MP3 is in actuality called an MP3
player.  Sorry for being so vague on that point.  An MP3 PLAYER has an
embedded OS in it.

> > Now your just starting to see the light.  What runs and 
> executes that
> > codec?
> 
> No, I already had it-- you're the one claiming the MP3 plays itself.

Maybe we both already had it but we are shining the lights in each
others face so intensely that either of us can see what the others point
is.

> 
> The licensing requires that the manufacturer include a source 
> code CD with the 
> car, or include a 2 year offer for the source code. Which is it?

The do offer the 2 year support for the code.  It's called a warrantee.
If something stops working properly they will fix it.  Whether it is a
software, firmware or mechanical problem.  As for the CD... They provide
access to the software currently loaded on the car's system.  In the
case of the Toyota Prius, there is a serial communications port under
the passenger side dashboard that can be hooked up to a computer and the
system can be accessed from there.  Why anybody who buys a car would
want a CD of the Linux with their car would be beyond me.  Most people
wouldn't know what to do with it and would be complaining that it would
not play in the CD player in the car.

> 
> > > > microwave, dishwasher (not the kids), digital alarm clock,
> > >
> > > If any of these are Linux-based, I certainly didn't get 
> the mandatory
> > > source code or offer...

It is part of the warrantee.  They fix it during the warrantee period.

> The licensing requires that the manufacturer include a source 
> code CD with the 
> appliance, or include a 2 year offer for the source code. I 
> didn't get it.

Show me where the license requires that an embedded version of Linux
should include a 2 year offer for the source code.