I have a few questions based on your talk:
1. Is there a reason why there has to be a physical box where the FreedomBox image file is stored? Shouldn't there be a way of installing it as a program on your computer/phone/etc that would make it work the same way, or is there some technical concept about servers that I don't understand that makes the physical device necessary?
2. I noticed on the FreedomBox website that you mentioned including features of Adblock Plus in the software release. I've been using ABP for a while now, and I love it. However, I've noticed that some websites that depend on advertising revenue and user activity tracking have implemented certain measures to force users to disable ABP (e.g. Hulu, and ESPN for a while until the last ABP update). Have you thought about the backlash from websites like this? Will the response simply be to release updates that find ways to hack around these websites' requirements?
3. What do you think the effect will be on the "free services" industry? (i.e. companies that offer free content but make money selling "targeted" advertising) Will they just vanish, or will they be forced to switch to a business model where users will have to pay a monthly fee. On a related note, what do you see as a realistic percentage of internet users who will choose to use FreedomBox within 5 years of launch?
-- JasonPyke - 08 Nov 2012 |