Clearwire is coming

So people who live in Middle Tennessee might have gotten a flyer on their door about a wireless broadband provider called Clearwire. It seems tempting. Pretty low prices compared to DSL and Cable Internet. I even thought about getting more information. Then I came across this website Clearwire Sucks

Turns out they have a ton of customer service and reception issues. I'll pass and stick with Cable and my wireless router. So buyer beware when it comes to Clearwire.

I also pimp the site because Clearwire's lawyers are threatening to sue and the blogger says if that happens she/he will post every detail. Good times.

Finally big ups to App State for knocking of Michigan. I hate just about every team in the Big 10 so it was a good time for me. I am not a Tennessee fan either so getting blown out by Cal did nothing for me. Top 4 teams I watch: Rutgers, Miami, Oklahoma, and Arizona State. Watch out for weekly football picks for college and NFL games on Fridays

NBC ejects from iTunes

From the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/31/technology)

NBC Universal, unable to come to an agreement with Apple on pricing, has decided not to renew its contract to sell digital downloads of television shows on iTunes.

The media conglomerate — which is the No. 1 supplier of digital video to Apple’s online store, accounting for about 40 percent of downloads — notified Apple of its decision late yesterday, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked for anonymity because negotiations between the companies are confidential.

So basically, NBC wanted iTunes to raise their prices to increase NBC Universal's profit margins. Apple said no. NBC threatens to go to a startup website that desperately wants to be the next Youtube. Apple says Bye.

But wait there's more:

The iTunes service has sold songs for 99 cents each since its beginning four years ago, except for the recent introduction of songs without copy protection. Episodes of television shows sell for $1.99, with movies priced at $9.99.

NBC Universal and other companies say they want to increase prices by packaging content— say an episode of “The Office” with the movie “The 40- Year-Old Virgin,” because they both star the comedian Steve Carell.

This is the dumbest idea I've heard since Bush's decision to go to Iraq. Making people pay for a random episode of "The Office" just to see a movie is beyond stupid. Giving it to people for free is one thing. But adding on the cost is something else entirely. People who buy "The Office" will simply buy it.

Look NBC Universal think they have the upper hand. But one of two things will happen once NBC pulls out: 1. People WILL increase the number of shows they get through Torrents. People are not going to another website to pay more for the same thing they got on iTunes. 2. NBC will put it online for free like ABC/Disney for a short time and get an online ad sponsor.

Besides, there are smaller media companies who would kill to have their content on iTunes. This makes room for them.

In retail, no one screws with Wal-Mart. Why? Because there is not a close second in sales volume worldwide. Media companies think they can push Apple around with iTunes. The problem: there is no rival. You could sink millions into making a rival that has a very good chance at failure. How many people do you see walking around with a Zune (that's what I thought).

Rant over, sorry about the lack of posting. Ear infection sidelined me for a few days.

Eminem sues, zzzzzzzzzzzz

I'll admit it. I don't like Eminem. And save your emails defending his bad music. I don't want to read them. But he did make tech news. From the BBC

Rap star Eminem is suing computer firm Apple for allegedly selling his music in its iTunes store without permission.

A lawsuit claiming infringement of copyright has been filed on behalf of the singer by his music publishing company Eight Mile Style.

Apple pays Eminem's record label for each download - but Eight Mile Style argues it has not approved the deal.

"This is a significant issue in the music industry," said Norman Ankers, a lawyer for the company.

Actually Norm, it's not. You see Apple works with music labels to sell the label's music on through their ITunes platform. Label and ARTIST get money from every single or album sold. What is it about that concept do you not understand. So Slim Shady's problem is with his label, not with Apple.

"Generally, artists want their music sold," said Joel Martin, a spokesperson for Eight Mile Style. "We want it downloaded. We request that any provider that's offering downloads license it through the publisher."

"Apple is not accounting to us. They are accounting to Universal (Music)," he said.

If Marshall wants to cut out the middle person (Universal), let him. Then he can talk to Apple directly. To me, it is akin to saying Borders can't sell a CD because the artist did not themselves go to Borders. Borders talked to the label and Borders can't do that. See how stupid that sound.

If you want your stuff to be sold, sell it and shut up. If not, pull it and shut up. Either way, Em, just shut up.

Emusic goes indie

From the IHT, http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/31/business/emusic.php

EMusic, the nation’s second-largest online music seller after Apple’s iTunes, plans to announce a deal with AT&T today that will allow people to buy songs from independent labels through their cellphones, without the need to go through a personal computer.

Several services, including those run by Sprint and Verizon, let people buy songs directly over the air. But they focus on songs by mainstream performers like Prince, who has a deal with Verizon. EMusic sells music only from independent labels, a category that these days includes the new album from Paul McCartney as well as obscure punk bands. The arrangement with AT&T Mobile Music will make those songs available just as easily as the more conventional ones.

For indie labels, this is a probably a good thing. It lets their artists get their stuff out there. We'll see how the software client is set up. So, how much does it cost:

Tracks will cost more than they do over the Internet--$7.49 for five songs, as opposed to $9.99 for 30 at the online site--because of the expense of sending them over a mobile network to a user's phone. For that price, however, users can also get another copy of the song, which they can download from the Internet as an MP3.

It has potential for people who are interesting in stuff they can't find in Clear Channel-run radio stations (if people still listen to read) and the top 100 on iTunes. That would include me. But I don't think there are many people like me out there.

This is why the music industry is dying a slow death

Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music corporation, has decided not to renew its annual contract with Apple for selling music through iTunes Music Store. Without the contract, iTunes will lose a large number of tracks and maybe consumers too. However, Universal will be the biggest loser. Why? Online music sales are on the rise. Itunes has almost the entire legal market.

Universal Music said that it will sell music through iTunes at will - which means consumers can still purchase tracks - but Universal will remove its tracks from the store on short notices if both parties do not agree on pricing or other terms. The time is a little odd. Right after people bought their new Iphone.

The sticking point? That's right, UMG wants to raise prices. Or charge less, according to the New York Times.
link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/02/business/media/02universal.html?ei=5065&en=1b940de192f6dfd7&ex=1184040000&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

"Edgar Bronfman Jr., the chairman of Warner Music Group, reinforced that idea at a recent investor conference, saying “we believe that not every song, not every artist, not every album, is created equal.”

The bottom line: Apple just announced DRM-free song catalog where if you buy from ITunes at a higher price, then you can play the song on an Ipod, or a Zune, or your cell phone. UMG refuses to sign on. That would satisfy UMG, unless they want prices to be higher than 1.49 a song.

Memo to People Buying an Iphone on Ebay

DON'T. Apple is a lot smarter than Microsoft and Nintendo. 360 and Wii had little supply to meet the initial demand. The result: people forced to buy for inflated prices on Ebay. If you didn't buy it (like me), you pissed off that you had to wait and decided not to buy it at all.

Apple has PLENTY of Iphones. Very few locations have sold out. If they have, go to your local AT&T Wireless or purchase at Apple.com. Any option will have you paying less than you will pay on Ebay.

Here's a guess: Most of those losers, errr, Apple fans you saw waiting in line had their brand new Iphones up on Ebay by 9 p.m. Of course, they were marked up 300 or 400 hundy. One moron tried selling one for $12,000.

Of course, people are STILL going to ebay to buy the phone. DON'T

I-Day, The Verdict

Will probably wait for an iPhone. But I am going to the local Green Hills store in Nashville for a class on how to use (gasp), a phone.

I will at least wait until the price comes down (which it will) or the phone is equipped with 3G tech (which the next version will). So I will try to resist. Price isn't the issue because E did very, very well and had very, very good time in Vegas.

Will let you know how the class went

One more week..to deal with all of the Iphone rumors

Rumor: Iphone will be offered on a pre-paid plan.
Me: God, I hope so. That would be the only way I would buy it this summer

Rumor: Buying an iPhone without a 2-year contract will cost $999
Me: Crazy talk. I could (and would) get a MacBook to replace my ibook which costs exactly the same.

Bottom line: This was posted on Apple Phone Show (http://applephoneshow.com/index.php/archives/302) and sums up my thoughts on iPhone rumors perfectly:

"We’ve heard hundreds of iPhone rumors. Most (like 99%) turn out to be proven false before the phone has shipped. The Apple Phone Show’s Andy Ihnatko recently left this comment on a thread full of people guessing what was going to come of the iPhone. It says it all. 'When an iPhone rumor turns out to be bull — and at this point I’ve lost count — the source is usually some dude in a mall store who was probably trying to put something into a female customer’s pants that wasn’t made by Apple.'"

Harry Potter spoiled?

Someone has claimed to hack into the computer network at Bloomsbury Books (the publishers of the Harry Potter series) and claims that he has a copy of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. On a mailing list, he "reveals" the fates of Harry, Ron, Hermoine, Hagrid, Voldemort, Snape, Malfoy, and Hogwarts.

People are anticipating how the story ends (for those who do not read the series) because it is rumored that one of the main characters will die by the end of the final book in the series.

Bloomsbury Books won’t confirm or deny the validity of a post by a hacker named Gabriel.

I read the spoiler (what can I say, I prefer to know what is going to happen rather than be surprised). It sounds plausible, but I wouldn't bet my house on the book ending the way Gabriel says. Not going to post a link here, because either A) the person is a nut; or B) the person is a criminal. Google "Gabriel and Harry Potter" and you will find it inside of 3 minutes.

Safari for PC

Have not downloaded it yet. But word is that is looks exactly like the MAC version. I use Firefox when I use a PC. I use Safari when I use a Mac. Story

Apple this week announced that it will target the Internet browser market with its Safari browser, making it available to Windows users. The market is currently dominated by Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Firefox, which holds 59.8 % and 33.7 % market share respectively (according to W3Schools).

Safari will draw users. But I am wondering will they get IE users or Firefox users. Even if I download Safari for PC, I will probably continue to use Firefox as my main browser. But we shall see

Internet Privacy

I wrote a bit about privacy earlier in the blog. Issue 2 of privacy is Allison Stokke. A high school track star who became an Internet sensation as losers, errr, obessed losers, errr, junior high school boys, errr, fans posted pictures of her on their website.

Reportedly, pictures in a local newspaper got posted on blogs and spread like wildfire. So she became an Internet star unknowingly. Because of that I am not going to post the pictures on this site. If you want pictures (and she is a cute women), go here.

She was recently featured on a front-page story in the Washington Post (which is the only way I found out about her). Maybe not the best way to put a clamp on the story.

Since I am officially the last person on the planet to find out about this, her popularity will peak.

CAN-SPAM?

Our government at its best:

The Federal Trade Commission is joining in the fight against SPAM. So they opened an email address: spam@uce.gov

They want people to forward spam they receive to the FTC as they will put it in their "database". From the FTC,

The FTC’s spam database has served as the basis for FTC cases involving pyramid schemes, money-making chain letters, credit card scams, credit repair scams, bogus weight-loss plans, fraudulent business opportunities, and other scams that were promoted via email.

Great theory, right? Finally, the government does something worthwhile. Well, guess what? The forwarded emails are being returned due to processing error. Wonder if the email is overloaded with SPAM? We'll see what happens.

By the way, Vegas is great.

(Blogger still hasn't fixed the editing buttons. They tell me it is not designed to work with Safari. My answer: Why the hell not? End of rant )

Is this sound sexist to anyone else? According to Kansas City Star (http://www.kansascity.com/595/story/151886-p4.html)

"Japanese women may soon be tapping on the hit Nintendo DS handheld game machine for beauty tips, such as taking extra fluids and monitoring skin tones.
“Dream Skincare” is part of recent efforts by Nintendo Co. to attract newcomers to gaming. Until recently, the gaming crowd has largely been young men fond of shooting and sports games.
But the Nintendo DS — which comes with two screens, including a touch panel — has been a big hit with older people and women with new kinds of games such as brainteasers and virtual pet games.
Players input their daily body temperature and weight by marking a graph that shows up on the touch panel, according to Konami Corp., which made the software.
The “beauty navigation software,” as the company describes it, asks questions that the player answers such as skin tone and smoothness, as well as exposure to sunlight and hours of sleep.
Advice on a daily regimen for healthy skin pops up on the screen, including directions to drink more water, or to eat apples and ginger, food that had a reputation for warming up the body.
Hormonal balance is key for avoiding wrinkles and age spots, and body temperature and weight fluctuations are good indicators for any hormone swings, which can get awry from overwork and stress, according to Konami.
Overseas sales for “Dream Skincare” are undecided. It’s set to go on sale in October in Japan for 4,500 yen ($37)."

Whether sales are successful or not, there are women who play shooting games and sports games. And there are guys interested in having healthy skin. But this probably gets into the larger issue of sexism and video games. Maybe we will tackle it at some point.

America's Army

For some reason, Blogger is only showing two editing icons in the editing bar. But they are "improving" the system again (Whenever I hear that someone is "improving" something and how this will be "so much better for me", I want to dive under a table. Because I know it won't be improved and it won't work out well for me). So no way to change the size of text or block quote or bold. They have keyboard shortcuts listed below, but I am boycotting them. End of rant.

Going to Vegas for the WSOP for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to give a quick note about America's Army (http://www.americasarmy.com/). They are coming out with the game on XBOX 360, according to a number of news outlets.
I don't play it because they discontinued MAC development and only update for PCs.

"The game will feature a multiplayer component for Xbox Live that will include eight maps developed by Red Storm Entertainment. True Soldiers will utilize the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Warfighter 2 game engine." - From Punch Jump (http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=4323)

Previous installments of the game (download and online play) are free because it is funded by U.S. tax dollars. Whether the U.S. should be using tax dollars to fund supporting and development of a video game is another issue for another time.

But I wonder if this will be the first truly free game for the XBOX and how will it be distributed.

Memo to America's Army: If you are going to develop a game with tax dollars, then make it accessible to everyone. Not just PC people. Americans use MACs too.

Cost Breakdown

Done for me by Allen Sterns at Centernetworks

So let's take a look at the math.

• $640 Phone - $599 plus tax (~8%)
• $60/mo Voice Plan - cheapest plan with unlimited nights and weekends
• $40/mo Media Max 3000 Bundle - includes 3000 texts and unlimited MediaNet which I assume will work as the browse function on the iPhone
• $8/mo Fees - lovely fees

The total cost: Over a year, that's a grand total of $1,936. For that, you get 900 minutes of talk time a month, and 3,000 SMS text messages according to Stern. Also remember that you have to sign a two-year contract with ATT/Cingular.

His comparison of what that money buys you is illuminating:

* 387 Starbucks grande drinks
* 2,129 McDonalds hamburgers
* 968 rides on the NYC Subway
* A round-trip ticket to Japan from the USA
* A new LCD 42" TV with enough money left over to buy all 5 seasons of 24 on DVD
* A Mac Powerbook

And none of this includes insurance so when you sit on your iPhone and break it, you don't have to shell out another $500 for a new one.

A recent post had an interesting prediction about the future price of the iPhone:

Will the $599 price drop quick? Yep. My bet is that by the holiday shopping period, it will be down to $299.

My decision: Come June 29, I will likely wait and see what happens.

hot iPhone tip, baby

Arianna Huffington (I think I have a crush on her voice). Talked with Apple's Steve Jobs about the iPhone and said something for those who are preparing to buy their new phone. Post on Huffington Post

Talking to Steve Jobs after his speech, I got a hot tip on how to be one of the first people to score a new iPhone when they go on sale in June. "Don't go to an Apple store," Jobs told me. "It will be a madhouse there. People will be lined up around the block, sleeping on the sidewalk to get one. Go to an AT&T/Cingular store. Most people don't know that they will be selling them too." Uh, they do now, Steve.

Good tip. We will do the price point for the phone, service, and insurance later. Oh yeah, you are going to want insurance because it would be horrible to drop for cell phone down the toilet. Literally, $600 down the toilet.

Cellphone Ban

I am a tech guy. But I am on the school's side on this one. Cellphone in schools

When Olivia Lara-Gresty saw the metal detectors at the entrance of Middle School 54 on the Upper West Side, she turned around and ran home to ditch her contraband before joining her sixth-grade class.

The cellphone police had arrived.

Not everyone was so savvy. The Police Department was there to carry out a random sweep for prohibited items, requiring all 900-plus students at the school to walk through metal detectors before entering.

Their total haul included 404 cellphones, 69 iPods, 23 other electronic devices, two knives and one imitation gun.

“People were crying,” said Samantha Haber, 14, an eighth grader.

Officially, the X-ray scans are meant to catch dangerous items. But since the unannounced sweeps began in April 2006, they have mostly detected cellphones, infuriating parents who see them as lifelines and have loudly opposed the checks.

The Education Department first banned “communication devices” around 1988, when the electronic toy of choice was a beeper. But the rule was not strictly enforced until last year, when the Bloomberg administration took action to prohibit cellphones in schools.

The sweep yesterday was one of the biggest so far since the crackdown. An unannounced visit to a Queens school on Wednesday yielded only 40 cellphones, 16 iPods and 33 unspecified electronic devices. The police collected only 83 cellphones during a sweep at a Bronx school a week ago, but also took 37 items like headphones, batteries and can openers — all forbidden.

According to rules set by Middle School 54’s principal, Elana Elster, the items confiscated yesterday could be picked up only by parents, and no earlier than Tuesday. But she later amended those instructions in an e-mail message to parents, saying that students could take home the cellphones and other items at the end of the day on Friday.

The initial instructions left hundreds of students leaving school yesterday at a loss.

“I feel naked,” said Krystal Corchado, 15, an eighth grader whose phone was seized. “I feel like I lost something very important to me.”

What a middle schooler needs with a cell phone I have no idea. My guess: 94 percent texting each other during school, 5 percent calling each other before/during/after school, 1 percent calling parents or parents calling the student.

I can understand why schools ban cellphones and students need to abide by those rules. But here is the kicker:

Around the corner from the school, a group of six students who had managed to hold onto their phones discussed their narrow escapes.

Ian Newcomb pulled his blue Samsung phone from his pocket to demonstrate how it evaded capture. “It’s nearly all plastic, so the metal detectors didn’t pick it up,” he said. “It was in my pocket the whole time.”

Maybe the metal detectors were not even turned on, suggested Axel McFarland, 11. “They didn’t even beep,” he said.

One furious parent, Leslie Lyons, whose eighth-grade daughter had taken Ms. Lyons’s cellphone to school, threatened to call the police after exchanging a few sharp words with an assistant principal. “I haven’t talked to our lawyer yet,” Ms. Lyons said. “I’m filing a criminal complaint that they stole my phone.”

Congrats. You have spured a new growth industry in cell phone technology: plastic cell phones.

Say it with me: There are no constitutional right to have a cell phone. Here endeth the lesson.

UPDATE - Down Goes Digg, Down Goes Digg

This was inevitable. Digg went down 30 seconds after the last post. Let's see what happens. I told Emo that they would do this and they would regret it.


Back up around midnight Pacific.

Digg This - Save the Numbers, Save the World?

Hardly, If you use digg and it has been slow. This is why:

I just wanted to explain what some of you have been noticing around some stories that have been submitted to Digg on the HD DVD encryption key being cracked.

This has all come up in the past 24 hours, mostly connected to the HD-DVD hack that has been circulating online, having been posted to Digg as well as numerous other popular news and information websites. We’ve been notified by the owners of this intellectual property that they believe the posting of the encryption key infringes their intellectual property rights. In order to respect these rights and to comply with the law, we have removed postings of the key that have been brought to our attention.

So digg users went ballistic and posted the hack in almost every single post and comment on the site. digg users say it was about respect.

Was it worth it? Respect is an intangible thing, for sure, certainly not as real and solid as a lot of that venture capital money that you’ve been lusting over, but it was all that your community was built on. Was it worth losing the respect of hundreds of your most passionate members, just to keep a mindlessly idiotic organization off your back? I think you’ll discover rather quickly that it wasn’t, and if this post ends up going MIA from your site, than you can kiss this former member goodbye forever.

This has very little to do with a silly hack, it’s the fact that digg has placed the nonexistent rights of a shill organization over the hard-earned respect of their members. That’s what all the outrage is about!

I understand why people at digg are upset. The site hands over most decisions about what is read and what is not to the user. Deleting the story (while staving off a lawsuit), alienated a lot of people.

So when digg get sued by "The Man". All the users posting will kick in generously to the defense fund, right? They are willing to defend the site that they are revolting against now that they have caved, right?

Probably not. But we'll see.

And no, I am not posting the code here. Why do it when all you have to do to is to go digg and look it up for yourself.

The funny thing: Most people would have no idea what to do with the code once they have it. So if anyone wants to walk me through what this code does, I would appreciate it.

Who will pay for the iPhone

A recent survey revealed how many people are willing to fork over $400 and $500 for an iPhone? Me, I am undecided. The findings:

The results were not all that shocking: of the 26 percent who replied and said they'd buy an iPhone at all (so that's what, 99 people?), only one percent—roughly 1 respondent—said that they would pay $500 for the device.

One is a very lonely number indeed.

42 percent of those who said they'd be willing to buy an iPhone said that they'd be willing to spend $200 to $299 on it, which I do admit is a much more attractive price tag than $499. Analyst Andy Neff from Bear Stearns & Co. told IDG that it's likely that Apple will debut the phone at this price at first, but will likely drop the price by $100 to $200 as Apple targets the mass market. If the results of this (extremely small) survey are any indication, Apple's going to have to if they want the iPhone to achieve iPod levels of consumerism nirvana.

The world has not gone insane. But, hey, I am still thinking about it.

Edwards' bloggers keep their jobs

From Presidential candidate John Edwards

The tone and the sentiment of some of Amanda Marcotte's and Melissa McEwan's posts personally offended me. It's not how I talk to people, and it's not how I expect the people who work for me to talk to people. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that kind of intolerant language will not be permitted from anyone on my campaign, whether it's intended as satire, humor, or anything else. But I also believe in giving everyone a fair shake. I've talked to Amanda and Melissa; they have both assured me that it was never their intention to malign anyone's faith, and I take them at their word. We're beginning a great debate about the future of our country, and we can't let it be hijacked. It will take discipline, focus, and courage to build the America we believe in.

Three thoughts: 1. Glad they didn't get fired. If they did, people would be reacting to everything a blogger had to say as soon as they declared in support of a candidate; 2. Blogging is moving from the role of the "Ultimate Outsider" to an insider. Working against the system while some are working for the system. So bloggers may have to make a choice. Blog from the outside or the inside. The time is going to come where you have to make a choice; 3. Washington is talking about this instead of Iraq because....

P.S. Mind you, I am officially undecided as far as Presidential candidates go. I think everyone will be sick of everyone running by Thanksgiving 2007. Then they will realize there are 11 more months to go. Sigh. And people wonder why I don't talk politics.

Free File of the Week

Grand Theft Auto has come a long way. GTA and GTA 2 are now available for free download. Probably will be playing these on my PC on the plane ride to 'Zona.

Rockstar Games

Edwards blogging scandal?

I don't talk politics too much. But this story has to do with how politicians use the blogs. But Amanda Marcotte, of Pandagon, and Melissa McEwan, of Shakespeare's Sister, have been criticized by conservative bloggers for statements they had previously made on their blogs before joining the John Edwards presidential campaign.

Of course there are two sides to the story. One side stated in Time Magazine and the other on liberal blog MyDD

I would post sections from the article, but I don't have that kind of time. But I will cut to the bottom line. Catholic groups want the two bloggers fired for their past comments. As of Thursday morning, there is no clear answer about whether they have lost their jobs. That will likely come sometime today.

I'll post a followup tonight or tomorrow morning and my takes on the story. Also tonight, the download of the day. Tomorrow afternoon, a much-needed trip to Arizona for fun, poker, and, um, stuff.

Look both ways before crossing the street..And Don't Wear Your Ipod

George Carlin said it best, "Whatever happened to natural selection? Survival of the fittest? The kid who swallows too many marbles doesn’t grow up to have kids of his own."

People stupid enough to walk across a busy New York intersection while blaring their Ipod deserve what they get.

They're the inevitable street encounters in a metropolis tethered to its portable electronic devices: the meandering businessman typing a text message on his BlackBerry, the chatty cell phone user coming to a dead stop on a crowded sidewalk and the iPod listener obliviously crossing a street as the light changes.

Technology has allowed New Yorkers to go mobile with their media, but it has also put their legs on automatic pilot while they tune into games, e-mail and music.

Now one lawmaker wants to put an end to this habit of modern life.

New legislation proposed by state Sen. Carl Kruger (D-Brooklyn) would fine pedestrians and bicyclists if they use their iPod, cell phone or other PDA while crossing a city streets.

By the way, I have zero clue how they are going to enforce this.

Been a long time

And no, I was not playing World of Warcraft (much). By the way, I have a review coming

Oh, and by the way, World of Warcraft expansion happens tomorrow

Posting this today because tomorrow I will be busy. (And no, not busy playing WOW). Article from Canada.com

Each day, millions of people around the world gaze at their computer screens to explore a dangerous fantasy world of treasure-filled dungeons and flame-breathing dragons, a land where mortal enemies lurk around every corner.

It's the "World of Warcraft," the most successful online game ever, and it's a world about to get a whole lot bigger with Tuesday's release of a US$39.99 enhancement called "The Burning Crusade."

More than eight million registered users now pay up to $15 a month to gather with hundreds of other real people who masquerade as digital avatars in the never-ending fantasy world of Azeroth.

"The Burning Crusade" adds new locales such as Karazhan, Hellfire Citadel and Tempest Keep to Azeroth, and presents a spiralling war against demonic forces where the game's two opposing factions - the Alliance and the Horde - will face powerful new enemies.

Players will have access to the new realm of Outland that's nearly as large as the existing game world, and the highest level that characters can achieve has been raised from 60 to 70.

There are two new races to choose from as well: the remnants of an ancient space-faring civilization called the Draenei, and the Blood Elves, who are addicted to arcane magic.

Very, very excited to see what they have done to the game. Will post a review sometime Monday.

Wiis are not worth more than your life

I understand the need to get your hands on a Wii. But some people go a little far. Fist-fights and elbowing people. Maybe. But not dying. Rule #1: Nothing or no one, outside of your family or your country, is worth dying for. Not even for Jessica Alba. (Article from KCRA news)

The family of Jennifer Strange said she died after taking part in a competition at the office of KDND 107.9 The End in an attempt to win a Nintendo Wii video game system for her three children. Assistant Sacramento County coroner Ed Smith said a preliminary investigation found evidence consistent with water intoxication in the death.Strange was the runner-up in the contest that required drinking huge amounts of water in a short amount of time.Contest winner Lucy Davidson recalled how she and Strange both got ill after the contest."After it was all over ... we both went into the bathroom and we were both sick," Davidson said. "She's throwing up. I'm throwing up. I mean, we just had too much."

Rule #2: Unless you are trying for tickets to the Super Bowl or a Grateful Dead concert, DO NOT COMPETE IN RADIO CONTEST. By the way, thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Also from MacWorld! Apple TV

Now this is something you will probably see me write about. From PC World

Speaking at Macworld Expo, Apple CEO Steve Jobs today announced the company’s new Apple TV.

Initially introduced in September with the code name “iTV,” Apple TV allows consumers to watch content from the iTunes on a television, bridging the gap between the computer and home entertainment system.

Apple TV sports connections for USB 2, Ethernet, HDMI, component, and optical connections, as well as support for Wi-Fi standards 802.11 b, g, and n, allowing users to wirelessly stream content from Macs to a TV.

The Apple TV also features a 40GB hard drive, an Intel processor and 720p HD video resolution. Apple TV will automatically sync content from one machine, and can stream content from up to five computers.

It also can access and control music and photo libraries. Jobs says Apple TV will be available in February for $299.

It's Official! iPhone is coming

Steve Jobs told us from MacWorld Expo in San Fran. Really, it's just Apple's version of the smartphone. (Picture from Apple's Website) Article from InfoWorld

"This is a day I've been looking forward to for two and a half years," Jobs said. "Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything."

In 1984, said Jobs, Apple introduced the Macintosh, and changed the computer industry. In 2001, Apple introduced the iPod, and changed the entire music industry. "Well, today, we're introducing three revolutionary products of this class," Jobs said. "The first one is a widescreen iPod with touch controls. The second is a revolutionary mobile phone. The third is a breakthrough Internet communications device."

But, he added that "these are not three separate devices. This is one device. And we are calling it iPhone. Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone."

Jobs explained that smartphones provide phone and e-mail and what he called "the baby Internet. They're not so smart and not so easy to use."

Interesting pic. It looks like a phone that looks like the dashboard of my Ibook. More info.

The iPhone does not use a keyboard, nor does it use a stylus, as many smartphones do today. The device uses new technology called "Multitouch."

"We're going to use the best pointing device in our world," said Jobs. "We're born with 10 of them, our fingers."

Multitouch is far more accurate than any touch display, according to Jobs. It ignores unintended touches, supports multifingers gesture. "And boy, have we patented it," he added.

The iPhone runs Mac OS X, said Jobs. "Why would we run such a sophisticated operating system on a mobile device? It's got everything we need," he said. "It's got multitasking, networking, power management, awesome security and the right apps. It's got all the stuff we want. And it's built right in to iPhone. And has let us create desktop-class applications and networking.

IPhone also synchronizes through iTunes. It syncs media, contact information, calendars, photos, notes, bookmarks, e-mail accounts. "All that stuff can be moved over the iPhone completely automatically," Jobs said.

The iPhone features a 3.5-inch, 160 dot-per-inch color screen. There's a small "Home" button on it. It's also remarkably thin -- 11.6 millimeters, thinner than any smartphone out there, according to Jobs.

Here is the kicker. Actually two. The pricetag and the U.S. carrier.

Apple Computer Co. said Cingular, a unit of AT&T, will be the exclusive US carrier partner for Apple's iPhone, its new mobile phone that downloads and plays music.

As part of this multi-year partnership, Apple and Cingular are working together to provide new features such as iPhone's pioneering and unique Visual Voicemail, a first on any mobile phone in the world.

Apple's iPhone will be available in the US in June 2007 in 4 and 8 gigabyte models and will work in combination with Apple's iTunes running on either a PC or Mac.

According to the AP wire, the cost will he around $499. Not sure if I want to pay $500 for a phone though. Some people LOVE their phones. I like my phone and my service. But I have until June to decide.

Another factor. I am going out of the country for 2 months this summer (That's the plan). So I will either take this with me or wait to buy it. So I've got some decisions to make. Of course, I could pay a pretty penny and try for an unlocked phone on Ebay.

D.C. Metro Map for your Ipod

Credit to KCG for this find.

For people living in DC or traveling to DC. A map of the Metro subway system is now available for your Ipod. I was going to wait until next week's free download of the week to put this up. But here it is. Luck for me, since I am going to DC to visit friends next week. Enjoy

More phone fun- America's Next Top Model

I'll admit. I don't watch the show. But obviously there are a lot who do since they have this:

According to the press release, “To play the "America's Next Top Model" game, players select a virtual representation of his/her favorite and least favorite contestants from the show. The main task is for users to interact with these selected virtual characters -- known as avatars -- as if they were real participants of the TV show. This means players must foster their avatar's modeling career through training and various challenges. The selection of the least favorable character allows players to play tricks on her”. The press release also talks about how users can send their virtual model to friend’s phones for a vacation. CBS says that “The game for the upcoming 2007 season will also have a viral, player-to-player component where users must send their avatar "on vacation" to a friend's cell phone, thus ceasing to take care of their own character for a while".

This is me not passing judgment.

In the U.S., the game will be available to Cingular and Sprint users depending on their cell phone. Consumers can download the game by going to either www.cwtv.com, www.botme.com or by sending a text message to a five-digit number advertised via commercials during the show. Artificial Life will also develop several mobile games over a license period of two years as part of the agreement with CBS. It will cost an initial price of US $5.99 to download the game.

No real comment, but I am a little curious. If anyone sees or downloaded the game, let me know how it is.

Free File of the Week

Hopefully, this will happen every Thursday. I will post the link for a free file that I think would be useful.

This week's file is MediaMonkey

A Windows file that manages your MP3 files. Syncs with your Ipod. Converts existing files. Turns CDs into MP3 or WMA files. One of the reviews put it perfectly for me. There is something about every media management file that I hate. Haven't found anything to hate with MediaMonkey.

Give a laptop, Save the World

A non-profit called One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) wants to create low-cost laptops for children in developing countries. Their website tells you why it is important:

One does not think of community pencils—kids have their own. They are tools to think with, sufficiently inexpensive to be used for work and play, drawing, writing, and mathematics. A computer can be the same, but far more powerful. Furthermore, there are many reasons it is important for a child to own something—like a football, doll, or book—not the least of which being that these belongings will be well-maintained through love and care.

The purpose, of course, is to accelerate learning for kids as governments give away these computers. And they seem to get a lot for their $100, same source as above:

The proposed $100 machine will be a Linux-based, with a dual-mode display—both a full-color, transmissive DVD mode, and a second display option that is black and white reflective and sunlight-readable at 3× the resolution. The laptop will have a 500MHz processor and 128MB of DRAM, with 500MB of Flash memory; it will not have a hard disk, but it will have four USB ports. The laptops will have wireless broadband that, among other things, allows them to work as a mesh network; each laptop will be able to talk to its nearest neighbors, creating an ad hoc, local area network. The laptops will use innovative power (including wind-up) and will be able to do most everything except store huge amounts of data.

So Argentina, Brazil, and Nigeria should get ready. By the way, some should still address the digital divide in this country. There are children in this country in poor areas who could benefit from the same program.

Phone fun

News flash: People like to play games on their cell phone. Myself included. I have a golf game and a boxing game that used to be on the old Nintendo gaming system. Then I run across this from iTWire

Meanwhile IDC is forecasting that the number of cellphone users in the US purchasing mobile games will grow more than 16 percent annually to nearly 50 million customers by 2010.

IDC says a recent survey found that 11 percent of respondents purchased at least one game for their wireless device in the third quarter of 2006, spending an average of $US13.00 on wireless games.

I'm gulity. Mainly I play games on taxi rides when I don't want to get out my iBook.

Cellufun, LLC, a one year old provider of free real-time multiplayer games for cellphones hit 1.5 million unique visitors in December. Meanwhile IDC is forecasting boom times for US providers of subscription-based mobile games.

According to Cellufun CEO, Arthur Goikhman, "A bit more than a year ago, when we rolled out our first game, we were getting 300 mobile game downloads a day. Today, we're getting as many as 20,000 a day. We are serving as much game content as any major wireless carrier, and are on track for 1.5 million visitors and 10 million page views for December 2006."

Sorry, but unless you are going to offer more games than Chess, Sudoku, and bad adventure games, you need not bother charging. Unless you want to go out of business. Offer something people can't get for free. Then we can talk.