> I don't really understand what it means for physical items like shoes to be open source in the sense that some software is.
Tangentially related, but despite the article's definition of open source: "It's definitely not just software", it's a peeve of mine nonetheless to hear the term "open source" applied in non-software/programming contexts. Especially with some of the examples you've pointed out:
> He also claims he wants to be open source in "how I get around." What would it mean for walking to be open source or closed source? Is it "open source" to ride a bus?
> App.net will only be funded if at least $500,000 is pledged by MONDAY, AUGUST 13 at 11:59PM PDT.
Why is this? They aren't going through Kickstarter, it's their own fundraising system and a deadline chosen by the App.net folks themselves. It's just an arbitrarily chosen deadline? A self imposed constraint that they can seemingly modify at will?
I use both gmail and hotmail (or outlook.com now) and the titlebar in this case is the same as in gmail: it has the user-name of the person logged in, the "options" (gear icon), the send/reply/delete/new-email buttons. And actually with gmail the interface has the google logo and search input above the title-bar taking up an extra ~100 pixels.
I've heard that grad students go through something very similar when they go to grad school: feelings of inferiority and fears of being "exposed" as fake when surrounded by so many other intelligent people.
I've never worked for a start-up but imagine the start-up scene works the same given the common stereotypes: success stories of 20-year-olds, hyper intelligent ivy-league drop-outs, etc. I don't know whether they're the rule or the exception to it.
I liked the demo, but why do I need to purchase the specific webcam? Is there any plan to create a service that works with regular built-in (Macbook) webcams?
I went to the site and everything was washed out in red.