Monday, June 30, 2008

Rhapsody Embraces MP3 Music Files Without Copy Restrictions

eMusic has 320 kbps files...Napster and Rhapsody have 256 kbps files

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Sunday, June 29, 2008

"Playing to Win: Inside the Video Game Industry"

July 14 and July 22...http://www.cnbc.com/id/24482267

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Windows XP available to 2009

But, not in retail stores...

Online retailers (like Newegg.com) will continue selling Windows XP as standalone, OEM software after June 30...

After June 30, users who wish to purchase XP pre-installed as part of a PC will be required to purchase either Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate and "downgrade" to Windows XP Professional, allowing Dell or another OEM to install XP for the price of Vista...

...both system builders and OEMs also have the option of purchasing Windows XP through Microsoft authorized distributors through January 31, 2009....

OEM copies often come with restrictions and limited support options; the OEM copies of Vista required the purchaser to provide technical support for the owner of the PC on which it was installed. However, retailers like Newegg cannot sell PCs with XP preinstalled, just like any other OEM. As long as a user states that he is a system builder and agrees to hold to the terms of the license, he or she may buy an OEM copy of Windows XP after the June 30 cutoff.

"...System Builders (sometimes referred to as "local OEMs"), may continue to purchase Windows XP through Authorized Distributors through January 31, 2009..."

--------------------------------------------

"...The architectural changes that improved security and resilience in Windows Vista led to compatibility issues with existing hardware and applications..."

"...we are refining the kernel architecture and componentization model introduced in Windows Vista...they will not impact the user experience or reduce application or hardware compatibility."

(Based on past history, how can he say that with a straight face?... - S!ick)

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Friday, June 27, 2008

Simple Ways to Super Charge Your Brain

I assume naps are good for you, as well...

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DNS records hijacked by Turkish hacking group

The ICANN and IANA websites were defaced by a Turkish group called "NetDevilz". ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers. These include domain names, as well as the addresses used in a variety of Internet protocols. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is responsible for the global coordination of the DNS Root, IP addressing, and other Internet protocol resources.Their domains were redirecting to a hosting space where the defacers left the following message:"You think that you control the domains but you don't! Everybody knows wrong. We control the domains including ICANN! Don't you believe us?"

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

An Epic E-mail Rant by Bill Gates

...even the Microsoft co-founder isn't immune to the frustrations of everyday computer users..."

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MPAA Understanding of 'Making Available' in the P2P Context

"You don't have to prove actual distribution. You need to prove there's works in the share folder, and that is distribution," said Joseph Geisman, MPAA's chief intellectual property attorney, as he described the so-called "making available" concept.

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

radio stations need REAL music directors

Buzz Out Loud 753: "RIAA killed the radio star" was about the RIAA seeking money from radio stations for playing music...

If I were a radio station that could not afford to pay, I wouldn't. Hire a music director to obtain music from those who will allow it to be aired for free. There's LOTS of better music available than that which is distributed by major record labels. You'll lose the gripings from the record companies representatives, and gain the ears of your community.

In my career, before corporate edicts and computers, I listened to ENTIRE ALBUMS to decide what to play. Incoming music was shared amongst the staff for their opinions and recommendations. We had jock meetings, and "listener panels". We, humans, mixed records together so that the change from one song to another was an art (instead of computers assembling songs based on programmed marks in the files and programs). It was a lot of work, and the final product showed the care put into the choices and selections...as well as in the on-air atmosphere.

Music is not the only prized content we, as broadcasters, have to deliver to listeners. If you can only keep listeners by playing music, pay the ("protection") money to the RIAA.
Blogged with the Flock Browser

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Buh-bye, Boost

July 1, Virgin Mobile USA will launch a new $79.99 per month unlimited prepaid plan.

I noticed they also have a "pay as you go with roll forward" plan: "As long as you buy another Minute Pack within 30 days, any unused minutes will roll forward for the next 30 days (up to 5000 minutes). If you don’t purchase another Minute Pack within 30 days, your unused minutes will expire at the end of the 30 days." For $20 per month, you get 200 minutes with additional calls at $.10 per minute."

To that, you can add unlimted text and messaging ("pix, email, and IM") for $20 per month.
Blogged with the Flock Browser

Technology: It's Where the Jobs Are (MAYBE!!!...)

(Be sure to read the comments in this story, and the ones at http://www.betanews.com/article/Students_now_avoiding_IT_degrees_despite_good_job_prospects/1214245739)

"A new survey shows growth across the country, with higher-than-average pay. And...the number of tech grads falling..."

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Why I still prefer Internet Explorer

"...you would be mad not to test your HTML / CSS / Javascript creation in each and every one...Open standards are good and important...until every browser somehow manages to interpret a massive and complicated standard specification in the exact same way, there is no such thing as perfect consistency...IE is getting it right."

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Monday, June 23, 2008

New controversy for Imus?

"...Imus will explain to his audience what he meant Tuesday morning on his radio show..."

Folks are trying to spin this one, taking what he said and meant...and attempting to use it against him.

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The Myth of Multitasking

There's a time and place to, and not to, do it. It's not that I can't (as some believe)...it's that I won't.

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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Hell's Kitchen Game

There's an uncensored version, but it might be available only for a limited time...http://www.playhk.com/

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"five-word speeches" from the 12th Annual Webby Awards

Some went beyond...

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

"Yes We Can Song" Video Awarded Emmy

"...the 'Yes We Can Song' was honored with the first-ever Emmy Award for Best New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment...the video has become a viral phenomenon on the Internet..."

The internet is AWESOME! (First time in my life I've ever used that description...)

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The Pwnie Awards

"...nominate all great bugs, lame vendors, amazing research and more..."

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What Is Web 2.0

This article is an attempt to clarify "Web 2.0"...

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

How to take a nap and the benefits of napping

An article from The Boston Globe about napping and how to make it more beneficial...(I've done it...it's great to do...it has helped me accomplish more than others. Do it...it's good for you.)

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dropped Wi-Fi signals on Vista laptops

Vista users are noticing notebook Wi-Fi connection drops without warning, at differing frequencies...

(I noticed it happening after I upgraded an OEM version to a retail version of Ultimate.)

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Vista's big problem: 92 percent of developers ignoring it

...one in 10 software developers writing applications for Windows Vista this year. Eight percent...49 percent of developers writing applications for XP...

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Monday, June 16, 2008

Viacom: It’s Not Copyright Infringement When We Do it to You

Viacom runs a clip on TV without permission. The creator takes his clip from TV to post on YouTube. Viacom issues a cease and desist letter to YouTube claiming that they own the clip...

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

new website for fathers to be a better dad: Odadeo

Make pledges about things that will make you a better dad...Keep track of when you keep them. Learn from other dads...Share tips, links and recommendations...Find answers by asking questions. Keep in touch with what your kids are doing with mini status updates that multiple people can update via web or SMS. Share your kids' stuff with privacy options.

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The Science Of Sleep

...disasters involve poor judgments and slowed reactions at a time when people were basically tired and made not complicated mistakes. Simple ones. And that is the hallmark of sleep deprivation...people who are chronically sleep deprived...often have no sense of their limitations......sleep-deprived volunteers often have mood swings: they get short-tempered, then become almost giddy, sometimes within seconds...people who had a good night of sleep, the control group, they showed a nice, modest, controlled response in their emotional centers of the brain......lack of sleep may be contributing to the epidemic of obesity...several large-scale studies from all over the world have reported a link between short sleep times and obesity, as well as heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. ...diabetes may be a disease of sleep deprivation......high schoolers are amongst the most sleep deprived individuals in our society, because they have an enormous sleep need - nine to ten hours...most of us need seven and a half to eight hours of sleep every night......naps can help. And brand new research is showing that long naps, including REM sleep, can even improve emotional outlook, making people less sensitive to negative experiences and more receptive to positive ones...

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Saturday, June 14, 2008

XploreTech (rugged) tablet PC

I've been looking forward to Tablet PCs since the Apple Newton (I've never owned one...yet). As soon as I could, I purchased one.

I own a Toshiba Portege 3503 Tablet PC. It's a very poor example of a Tablet PC:
I'm always in fear of scratching the screen...
and it's response to pen activity has always left MUCH to be desired.

I've always wanted to use Windows Journal on a regular basis. It's "...a basic note-taking accessory that was created specifically for the Tablet PC. You can use it to capture handwritten notes and drawings, convert handwritten notes to text, import graphics files, and share notes with others...export as MHTML files, which others can view with Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later, or by exporting them as TIFF images for viewing with a viewer that is installed by default on Microsoft Windows 98 or later."

The Sticky Notes accessory (think Post-It Notes) allows you to "...write and store short notes...You can place sticky notes directly on your desktop or in any OLE-enabled program, such as Word, to add electronic comments or reminders to your documents."

==================================

Xplore Technologies allowed us to review their iX104C3.

THEY GOT IT RIGHT! It has a 10.4” screen that I don't fear using...I'm not afraid I might scratch it with the pen.

It comes with 512 MB RAM (and can expand to 1 GB).
40GB and 80GB hard drives are available.

Wireless options include wLAN, wWAN, PAN (Bluetooth) and GPS.

There is a fingerprint reader on the unit. I did not need that functionality, so I disabled it.

I assume the PCMCIA bay is optional, because I was unable to find a port on the unit I used.

Being a Tablet PC, there is character and handwriting recognition...and an on-screen keyboard.

Two USB 2.0 ports
A microphone and Headset jack
LAN (RJ-45) 10/100/1000 Mbit port
A 15 pin D-SUB connector for external VGA monitor
Optional Bluetooth/56K modem combo module
Remote SIM socket for eGPRS (which I assume is optional because I was unable to locate it on the unit I had.)

On the front are 6 customizable function buttons:
application buttons with primary and secondary functions...
a power on/Suspend/Resume button...
and a reset button.

Battery life is to be up to 3.5 hours, with a recharge time of 2.5 hours (to get to a 90% charge).

---------------------------------

The iX104C3 PLUS model can be provided with 40GB, 80GB, and 120GB hard disk drives.

--------------------------------

The stylus pen is tethered to the undersized of the tablet. I don't remember at exactly which corner it was tethered to, but...

I prefer to use the tablet in a horizontal position. Being right-handed, I needed it to be tethered at the top-right corner of the unit.

When I held the tablet vertically, I needed it to be tethered at the lower-right corner.

--------------------------------

I felt I needed to reset the digitizer at least once a day.

---------------------------------

I wish the model I used had an adjustable cam...

==========================================================

You can watch Andy's Tech Tuesday segment about the XploreTech Pen Tablet at http://www.techtalkradio.com/koldtv/koldtv.htm and http://www.techtalkradio.com/podcast/kold06032008.mp4

His webpost is at http://techtalkradio.com/reviews/xploretech.html

==============================================================

As an alternative consideration, take a look at the Aiptek My Note Premium Digital Notepad Tablet. I have not had an opportunity to use it, but would love to and am considering purchasing one.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Do you really need a college degree?

It's good to have, but not always necessary to be a great candidate as an employee...

read more | digg story

Sunday, new Sprint plans and phones

The new plans go into effect on June 15 and existing customers can take advantage of this without extending their current contract...There is no word on Sprint’s efforts at capping data service on smartphones here...

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Study: consumers lust after high-speed broadband, not HDTV

...countries like South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong all have relatively high percentages of broadband connections over 5Mbps (64, 48, and 35 percent, respectively), while only 20 percent of US connections fall into that category. When it comes to just "fast" connectivity (over 2Mbps), the US ranked at number 24 in the list—South Korea once again came out on top, followed by Belgium and Switzerland...the average download speed in the US was a mere 1.9Mbps...lower than Canada, many western European countries, Japan, and Korea...the US has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to broadband speeds.

read more | digg story

Signs a 'Geek Girl' is like errr, totally into You!!!

My faves:6. She invites you to "302 back to my place" after a night out.8. She thinks you're much cuter in person than in World of Warcraft.10. She invites you to a romantic night at her place that involves popcorn and Tron.

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

National Security Letter gags recipients, and demands info

National security letters "gag" recipients from telling anyone they even got one (except their lawyer)...The Internet Archive got one and fought it, but were one of 3 (out of 200,000) to do so publicly.

read more | digg story

Twice As Many Rich Escape U.S. Tax - Forbes.com

Congressional changes, not abusive tax shelters, led to jump.

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How to Live With Just 100 Things - TIME

1. Define your vision
2. Define the clutter
3. Start small
4. Let your good riddance help others
5. Examine all aspects of your life for clutter

THROW AWAY! DONATE...GARAGE SALE...KEEP...CONSIGNMENT...GIVE TO FRIEND...EBAY...

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

CD-R longevity

Factors that contribute: dye...reflective layer (gold, aluminum, or some form of silver)...lacquer or other protectant...CD burners...environment (temperature, humidity, exposure to light) and handling (fingerprints, scratches, frequency of use)...

read more | digg story

Here's the link to a post I made on the TechtalkRadio blog...

Monday, June 9, 2008

Tay Zonday and Obama Girl


Tay Zonday and Obama Girl, originally uploaded by natalidelconte.

(To rip-off Mel Brooks) It's good to be a nerd...

TSA outlaws ID-less flight

...flying without ID will be illegal. Terrorists who claim to have lost or forgotten their ID will still be permitted to fly, but citizens asserting their court-validated right to fly without ID will be refused passage beyond the checkpoint. This change was made by TSA...

"Beginning Saturday, June 21, 2008 passengers that willfully refuse to provide identification at security checkpoint will be denied access to the secure area of airports..."

To clarify: Passengers who refuse to show ID, citing a constitutional right to fly without ID will be refused passage beyond the checkpoints. Passengers who say they have left their ID at home, will be searched, and then permitted to board their flights.

read more | digg story

used software can be resold says US court

...A Seattle District Court has found...that the packages of software in question were sold, not licensed, and that the license is not binding on subsequent buyers.If followed by other courts, the Autodesk ruling could affect the ability of software publishers to restrict the transfer of their products...

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free physics and animation software

Havok Complete - "...titles featuring Havok physics include: Halo 3, Assassin’s Creed, Guitar Hero III, BioShock, World in Conflict, Half Life 2: The Orange Box, and Heavenly Sword..."

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Top 10 Video Game Hunks

Alright, girls...whatdya think?

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Sunday, June 8, 2008

FCC's Free Wireless Internet Plan Is Doomed To Fail

Last month, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin proposed auctioning off an unused piece of spectrum with the condition that the winner offer free Wi-Fi. In a filing (PDF) with the FCC, the CTIA said this is a horrible idea that is bound to fail.

read more | digg story

Saturday, June 7, 2008

'Bill Engvall Show', a TBS show, will be on CBS

"The Bill Engvall Show" is an in-house production at TBS, which is owned by Time Warner...In exchange for CBS giving its show wider exposure, TBS will cede promo time to CBS to promote its fall 2008 schedule. No money changed hands.Kinda weird, but I guess television...broadcast AND subscription...are losing more and more viewers.

read more | digg story

Thursday, June 5, 2008

blackmailing virus encrypts your data

"Your files are encrypted...To recovery your files you need to buy our decryptor. To buy decrypting tool contact us..."

read more | digg story

Air Force recruiting part-time geeks

The Air National Guard is drawing from Microsoft, Cisco, and other high-tech firms.

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The Nerd Handbook

So very true (especially for me)...take note: "...your nerd is sensitive to drastic changes in his environment...Your nerd has built himself a cave...Each object in the Cave has a particular place and purpose. Even the clutter is well designed...Your nerd loves toys and puzzles...Your nerd spent a lot of his younger life being an outcast...Your nerd has an amazing appetite for information...your nerd is the king of the context switch...given a world where context is constantly shifting, your nerd can’t focus...Your nerd knows very little about a lot. For many topics, his knowledge is an inch deep and four miles wide. He’s comfortable with this fact because he knows that deep knowledge about any topic is a clever keystroke away...For any given piece of incoming information, your nerd is making a lightning fast assessment: relevant or not relevant? Relevance means that the incoming information fits into the system of things your nerd currently cares about. Expect active involvement from your nerd when you trip the relevance flag. If you trip the irrelevance flag, look for verbal punctuation announcing his judgment of irrelevance...Information that your nerd is exposed to when the irrelevance flag is waving is forgotten almost immediately...Your nerd might come off as not liking people...small talk is a combination of aspects of the world that your nerd hates..."

read more | digg story

Something else to consider: Asperger's syndrome.

I'm guilty of:
displaying lack of eye contact, and few facial expressions...
showing an intense obsession with one or two specific, narrow subjects...
appearing not to understand, empathize with, or be sensitive to others' feelings...
being socially aware but display inappropriate reciprocal interaction...
having a hard time "reading" other people...
finding humor in what others find humorous...
speaking in a voice that is monotonous or rigid...
having odd posture...
having been described as eccentric...
"concrete thinking" (versus abstract...being too literal)...

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergers-syndrome/DS00551/DSECTION=2

http://www.autism.org/asperger.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/28/autism.essay/index.html

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

teenagers should watch this show about being parents

NBC's upcoming reality series "The Baby Borrowers"...teenage couples "experience" pregnancy through caring for the elderly...starts June 25

read more | digg story