Archive for September, 2007
Update On Self-Updating Of Windows Update
Posted by Joe on September 14, 2007 · Comments Off
Microsoft responds to eWeek’s findings that certain files were being installed on Windows computers even when the auto-update feature is disabled:
One question we have been asked is why do we update the client code for Windows Update automatically if the customer did not opt into automatically installing updates without further notice? The answer is simple: any user who chooses to use Windows Update either expected updates to be installed or to at least be notified that updates were available. Had we failed to update the service automatically, users would not have been able to successfully [...]
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Tracking The Yahoo Buzz
Posted by Joe on September 14, 2007 · Comments Off
Yahoo is buying BuzzTracker, a decent memetracking site. I’m not sure why — it seems like something the Yahoo folks could have done on their own, and it’s not like BuzzTracker is that well known. Possible explanation: rumor has it Yahoo is working on some sort of Digg clone, which could be nicely integrated with the BuzzTracker site.
[via AllThingsDigital]
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To The Moon, Alice
Posted by Joe on September 14, 2007 · Comments Off
Google ponies up $25 million for a lunar X-Prize:
The X Prize Foundation saw the new contest as one of “the grand challenges of our time that we can use to move people forward,†said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and C.E.O. of the foundation.
The prize for reaching the moon and completing the basic tasks of roving and sending video and data will bring the winner $20 million, according to the contest rules. An additional $5 million would be awarded for other tasks that include roving more than 5,500 yards or sending back images of artifacts like lunar landers from the Apollo program.
This [...]
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Walt Says No Thanks To Ubuntu
Posted by Joe on September 13, 2007 · Comments Off
Walt Mossberg looks at Dell’s Ubuntu computer offerings in this video, and finds the Linux OS isn’t yet ready for the average user.
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Netscape’s Propeller
Posted by Joe on September 12, 2007 · Comments Off
Netscape’s “social news” site (i.e., Digg clone) will soon have a new home: propeller.com. I don’t get it either. Details
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Apple Will Break 3rd Party Apps
Posted by Joe on September 12, 2007 · Comments Off
I was surprised when an Apple rep announced that Apple was taking a neutral stance on 3rd party apps, and would not intentionally try to break them. As it turns out, so was Apple:
Apple didn’t seem to want to let it get around that they’ve taken a completely neutral stance on 3rd party application development for the iPhone, and apparently got back with Gearlog to clarify that future iPhone “software updates will most likely break” 3rd party app compatibility. Not ignore, not possibly break — most likely break.
That’s more like it.
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Sneaky Links
Posted by Joe on September 12, 2007 · Comments Off
louisgray comments on Engadget’s — and now Mashable’s — annoying policy of peppering their posts with links to posts and categories on their blog instead of relevant off site content.
But if you look at Engadget, a hyperlink you would expect to take you to Apple would instead either take you to a previous story about Apple, or to search results within Engadget on the term Apple.
The key to reading Engadget is to know that only the last link in a post is usually relevant to the post’s subject, and every other link is usually self-referencing spam.
TechCrunch has [...]
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Microsoft Flips “Reduced Functionality” Switch (update – hoax)
Posted by Joe on September 11, 2007 · Comments Off
According to an email from a Microsoft employee to a large Vista distributor, Microsoft has flipped a switch that will begin disabling copies of Vista they decide are not genuine:
Good afternoon, as of this week, Microsoft has activated a function in Vista called ‘Reduced Functionality.’ This is a specific function in Vista that effectively disables nongenuine copies of Windows. Therefore anyone who has a pirated copy of Vista will experience:
A black screen after one hour of browsing
No start menu or task bar
No desktop
Please communicate this antipiracy initiative from Microsoft to [...]
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Chuck
Posted by Joe on September 11, 2007 · Comments Off
I just watched the Chuck premier from Amazon Unbox, and it’s an awesome show. Maybe the best pilot I’ve ever seen. Which means it should be canceled by Christmas.
I think this was a smart move on NBC’s part — creating internet buzz over new shows weeks before they premier. By the way, using Amazon’s Unbox service was painless. It seems to be a high quality product. With tv episodes normally costing under $2 each, it’s a great way to catch a missed episode.
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iPod Touch Lacking Basic Organizer Functionality
Posted by Joe on September 11, 2007 · Comments Off
Apple is up to its old tricks, needlessly crippling the iPod touch’s software to keep it from cannibalizing the iPhone market:
“Like current iPods, the touch can only view calendar entries created on your computer”. In other words, no, you can’t make new calendar entries on the fly. Why Apple would want to remove this simple feature that’s already built into the mobile OS X calendar experience is really beyond us, but we guess they’re doing their damnedest to draw the line in the sand between iPod and iPhone. Still, makes you wonder what other minor, useful features [...]
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Download NBC Premieres Early — Available Now
Posted by Joe on September 11, 2007 · Comments Off
I really need to put together a media pc to attach to my tv:
Some of TV’s most-anticipated new shows are on NBC this fall: Bionic Woman, Chuck, Life, Journeyman. And though they don’t officially premiere until two weeks from now, I’ve got great news for the impatient: All four shows are available for download now, only at Amazon Unbox. For free. (Seriously.)
Oh well, guess I’ll be watching these on my laptop.
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Tron 2 Under Development
Posted by Joe on September 11, 2007 · Comments Off
Disney is moving ahead with the Tron sequel:
TORONTO — Commercial director Joseph Kosinski is in final negotiations to develop and direct “Tron,” described as “the next chapter” of Disney’s 1982 cult classic. Sean Bailey is producing via the Live Planet banner, as is Steven Lisberger, who co-wrote and directed the original film.
Kosinski, who last month signed on to helm the remake of “Logan’s Run” for Warner Bros. Pictures, will oversee the visual development of the project and have input on the script, which is being written by “Lost” [...]
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Free Download — Seriously Westcoast Compilation Album
Posted by Joe on September 8, 2007 · Comments Off
Download the Seriously Westcoast album for free, sponsored by the Vancouver Sun. The album features tracks from Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, and The Weepies, to name just a few.
[hat tip to RJ]
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iCarly Mini Review
Posted by Joe on September 8, 2007 · Comments Off
iCarly is a cute new tween sitcom on Nickelodeon that features a web-show within a show. It’s a cool concept that will appeal to kids, and the iCarly.com web site goes along with the premise, even allowing kids to submit their own videos (including a girl who can pick her nose with her toes — what talent!). iCarly is certainly more original and less formula driven than most kids sitcoms, and it’s worth checking out even if your house is tween free.
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Firefox Milestone
Posted by Joe on September 7, 2007 · Comments Off
Firefox reaches 400 million downloads.
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Netscape Gets Less Social
Posted by Joe on September 7, 2007 · Comments Off
As expected, netscape.com will be going back to a more “traditional news experience”, with the Digg clone currently at that address moving elsewhere. Eventually, you’ll see something very much (or exactly) like this at netscape.com. No official word yet on where the Digg-like “social news site” that currently resides there will end up.
The web doesn’t need another traditional portal, but it doesn’t need another Digg either. At least there’s a certain amount of nostalgia for Netscape as a start page.
[announcement from the Netscape Blog]
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Amazon To Kindle Interest In E-Books
Posted by Joe on September 6, 2007 · Comments Off
Amazon will begin offering an e-book reader next month for between $400 and $500:
In October, the online retailer Amazon.com will unveil the Kindle, an electronic book reader that has been the subject of industry speculation for a year, according to several people who have tried the device and are familiar with Amazon’s plans. The Kindle will be priced at $400 to $500 and will wirelessly connect to an e-book store on Amazon’s site.
That’s a lot of money for a single-purpose device (it surfs the web, but with a greyscale screen — no thanks) when PDAs and smart phones make [...]
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Classic PDA From HP
The iPAQ 111 Classic Handheld is an old school PDA from HP. At just $299, it will have Wi-Fi, a powerful Marvell PXA310 624MHz processor, QVGA screen, 64 MB SDRAM main memory for running applications, and 256 MB flash ROM. The Classic weighs in at just 3.68 ounces.
With the traditional PDA something of an endangered species, it’s nice to see some fresh blood in this category.
[HP product page]
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Google Reader Gets Search
Posted by Joe on September 6, 2007 · Comments Off
The world’s search expert has finally added search to it’s RSS reader:
As of today Google Reader, Google’s RSS reader, is search-enabled. This was a long-awaited feature: now you can find posts from any of your subscribed feeds. Hits show up whether or not you’ve read the particular post. As usual with Google searches, you can not find word parts, but full words only, so “ipo†won’t find “ipod†(Gmail contacts search is one of the rare instances where Google returns parts of a word, too).
Since I do all my feed reading in Google Reader and [...]
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iPhone Envy
Posted by Joe on September 5, 2007 · Comments Off
Someone should do some sort of decision theory study of the iPhone early adopters who are now upset that other people will get to pay less for a product they own. It’s something that sort of makes sense until you look at it closely, which is when it starts seeming really bizarre.
Think about it: folks who spent $599 on an iPhone a month or two ago, and said “worth every penny” at the time, are now angry that Apple has dropped the price to $399 — a decision that doesn’t affect them. They still have the same iPhone they owned and were happy with yesterday, and they [...]
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Movie Download Services Reviewed
Posted by Joe on September 5, 2007 · Comments Off
On Last 100, 11 video download stores compared. It’s a good roundup. I’ll go ahead and give NetFlix an honorable mention — if you’re a member, watch up to 17 hours of movies a month online at no extra cost.
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Signed Sealed And Deliverd — by SignèDocs
Posted by Joe on September 4, 2007 · Comments Off
SigneDocs.com is working to provide a free solution for digital signatures on electronically transmitted documents. The process, as they explain it, is straightforward: “Select/Upload Document & Email to Party – Party Signs Electronically – You get signed document by email -Document gets archived”. Assuming the folks at SignèDocs are correctly interpreting the relevant laws dealing with digital signatures, this could evolve into a valuable service. SignèDocs is currently in public beta.
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Palm Cancels Foleo
Posted by Joe on September 4, 2007 · Comments Off
Palm has canceled development of the Foleo, a laptop-like “smartphone companion” that had critics and Palm enthusiasts alike scratching their heads. The Foleo was an expensive mistake, but canceling it took courage. Hopefully, this move signals a return to Palm’s roots, and indicates a willingness to adapt and change. Time will tell.
Excerpt from Palm’s announcement:
In the course of the past several months, it has become clear that the right path for Palm is to offer a single, consistent user experience around this new platform design and a single focus for our platform [...]
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OLPC May Face Component Shortages
Posted by Joe on September 4, 2007 · Comments Off
Potential component shortages may affect the One Laptop Per Child program:
The company manufacturing the One Laptop Per Child notebook played down the impact of component shortages in the industry, rebutting local reports that the shortages will affect supplies of the computer when it ships in October.
Strong sales of notebook computers and a massive battery recall are causing shortages of many key components, including screens, certain kinds of chips and other parts, analysts and companies say.
The production schedule for OLPC’s laptop is also problematic because it’s starting in the [...]
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