Microsoft filed a new patent on April 27, 2004:
A method and system are provided for extending the functionality of application buttons on a limited resource computing device. Alternative application functions are launched based on the length of time an application button is pressed. A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed for a short, i.e., normal, period of time. An alternative function of the application is launched if the button is pressed for a long, (e.g., at least one second), period of time. Still another function can be launched if the application button is pressed multiple times within a short period of time, e.g., double click.

Sounds familiar? My digital watch clock was able to have different functionality depending on the length of the button press 20 years ago!!! Has the software patent world gone crazy?

Thanks to groklaw for the pointer.

Heh, this is a nice idea. I told you about Lawrence Lessig’s new book: “free culture”. (BTW, it is very good to read and rather interesting). Not into reading stuff? No problem… a couple of guys (and girls) produced an audio book version where each person reads a different chapter of the book. Nice idea!

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you,
then they fight you, then you win. –Gandhi

Currently I do a “Lines of code” analysis with several open source projects. Why the heck can CVS not include the number of lines of code in all first versions of a file (r1.1). I basically spent all weekend figuring how to write a script that downloads each single file in its version 1.1 and count the LOC for them manually. Darn, I hoe cvs’s successor subversion is a bit smarter there…