Posted by andreaitis on April 5, 2009
Boston University physics grad student Joel Tenenbaum is accused of sharing copyrighted music online, specifically seven tracks on Kazaa. As a result, he is currently being sued by the RIAA. Enter Radiohead, who firmly believe the music industry is not harmed by file-sharing. In fact, they think file-sharing among music fans can help. Talk about a (rock) star witness…
Radiohead, the band that made millions of dollars by giving away their music for free, has very little to complain about when it comes to piracy. On the contrary, in a landmark file-sharing case, Radiohead has responded positively to a request to testify against the RIAA.
Now, in the case of Boston University student Joel Tenenbaum versus the RIAA, Radiohead has indicated that they will testify against the RIAA. Tenenbaum’s troubles started in 2003 when he rejected an offer to settle with the RIAA for $500. After a few more settlement attempts and legal quibbles, the case eventually went to court.
Radiohead to Testify Against the RIAA | TorrentFreak.
Posted in music, technology | Tagged: file sharing, Radiohead, riaa | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on April 3, 2009
The headline caught my eye: “Gang of villagers chase away Google car.” Paints quite a picture, huh? But these villagers were from an affluent area north of London. They were not simply aghast at a tacky Google car marring their pristine corner of paradise. They were concerned about invasion of privacy and safety, about creating a detailed treasure map for would-be burglars.
Of course, there’s a difference between what’s legally right and what’s morally right. Assuming Google was on public property, where do we draw the privacy lines?
Google’s ambitious plan to offer a 3-D street level view of communities across three continents hit a snag when angry residents of a UK village blocked the search engine’s camera car from photographing their homes.
“I was upstairs when I spotted the camera car driving down the lane,” resident Paul Jacobs told The Times of London.
“My immediate reaction was anger: How dare anyone take a photograph of my home without my consent? I ran outside to flag the car down and told the driver he was not only invading our privacy but also facilitating crime.
Gang of villagers chase away Google car – CNN.com
Posted in technology | Tagged: Camera, google, google earth, London, Privacy law | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on March 31, 2009
Yes, it’s true. A press release went out yesterday with this announcement, and for better or worse Rhode Island is showing us the money: http://twitter.com/RITreasury/
So, which is it: better or worse?
General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio announced today that the Office of the Rhode Island General Treasurer will now be using Twitter to broadcast the State’s daily cash flow on a real-time, daily basis.
Cash flow is a measure of Rhode Island’s financial health. Each day’s publication or “tweet” will highlight the gross revenues and expenditures of the General Fund. “In layman’s terms, what money the state takes in and what money is paid out,” said Caprio.
via RI.gov : Rhode Island Government : Treasurer Caprio’s Office To Utilize Social Networking Tool Twitter To Broadcast Rhode Island’s Daily Cash Flow On A Real-Time Basis.
Posted in technology, twitter | Tagged: Frank Caprio, Rhode Island, Treasury, Twitter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on March 31, 2009
Good, old fashioned use-your-noggin PR still exists. Someone at Palm heard Howard Stern talking about getting a new cellphone, and lickety-split they rang up and offered him a personal preview of the Palm Pre. And, when I say ‘rang up’ I mean called him. On the phone. Tweet that, Twitter.
It’s a very public test case for the Pre and Palm is working the celebrity circuit to get a little iPhone-ish type buzz. The downside: It could also be disastrous if the Pre isn’t easy to use. Let’s face it Stern isn’t exactly as savvy as the Engadget gang.
Palm is getting Stern a demo Pre delivered to his home with a hands-on tutorial and then taking the top secret device away.
via Palm chases biggest mouth (Howard Stern) for Pre word of mouth marketing | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com.
Posted in mobile, technology | Tagged: cell phone, Howard Stern, Palm, Palm Pre | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on March 29, 2009
That’s what Nick Cohen suggests in a happenstance companion piece to T/S Nancy Miller’s coverage of a new fund supporting investigative reporting.
The best reason for wanting my colleagues to survive is that serious reporters and broadcasters offer a guarantee that what they say is true. If they stray, their editors impose journalistic standards and insist on objectivity. They may not have the best or fullest story or the most vivid account, but readers should be able to assume their work is reliable, while a blogger’s commitment to objectivity can never be assumed.
via Nick Cohen: Who would you rather trust – the BBC or a blogger? | Comment is free | The Observer.
Specifically, I take issue with this phrase: “…a blogger’s commitment to objectivity can never be assumed.” First of all, commitment to objectivity should never be assumed, period. It suggests objectivity exists, which is a discussion unto itself. But readers should be smart and sensible; they should interpret and question accordingly, whether they’re reading from a newspaper, a mobile phone or a Kindle.
Bloggers as a generalization? That doesn’t fly anymore. Blogging is a platform, like tv, radio and print. It’s been a quick and energetic transition, from blogging infancy to adolescence. Bloggers are no longer simplistically defined. Just ask Andrew Sullivan.
Posted in technology | Tagged: blog, Bloggers, journalism, Objectivity | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on March 29, 2009
Now if only Mark Cuban was twittering when he was on Dancing with the Stars…
The NBA has fined Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, the dotcom billionaire, $25,000 for slagging referees on Twitter Friday.
via Shut Up, Twitter: Mouthy Billionaire Mark Cuban Fined for Using Twitter.
Posted in social media, technology, twitter | Tagged: Fine, Mark Cuban, NBA, Twitter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on March 27, 2009
Another illusion shattered. All those celebs twittering? Well, some of them are Cyrano de Twitters. I can’t wait for the outcry from authentic star twitterers who will look down upon those outsourcing their twittering.
And, no matter what, please don’t tell me the_real_shaq is not the real Shaq. Surely a fake Shaq couldn’t Twitter like that.
Britney Spears recently advertised for someone to help, among other things, create content for Twitter and Facebook. Kanye West recently told New York magazine that he has hired two people to update his blog. “It’s just like how a designer would work,” he said.
It is not only celebrities who are forced to look to a team to produce real-time commentary on daily activities; politicians like Ron Paul have assigned staff members to create Twitter posts and Facebook personas. Candidate Barack Obama, as well as President Obama, has a social-networking team to keep his Twitter feed tweeting.
The famous, of course, have turned to ghostwriters for autobiographies and other acts of self-aggrandizement. But the idea of having someone else write continual updates of one’s daily life seems slightly absurd.
via When Stars Twitter, a Ghost May Be Lurking – NYTimes.com.
Posted in technology | Tagged: britney spears, Celebrities, Shaq, Twitter | 4 Comments »
Posted by andreaitis on March 26, 2009
Now we know things are really, seriously bad.
Make it official: Google’s not immune from the bad economy and plummeting ad market. We’ve been hearing for weeks that Google would have layoffs. Google is cutting 200 employees today, the company now confirms.
via Confirmed: Google to Lay Off 200 Employees.
Posted in technology | Tagged: google, layoffs | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on March 26, 2009
Posted in technology | Tagged: Twitter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by andreaitis on March 25, 2009
A crafty editor made a tin foil snuggie for his iPhone to stop the dreaded buzzing. Now, if only we can find a solution for people who insist on chattering incessantly in public restrooms. No matter what they’re doing, no matter who else is around. Must be a LOT of world-changing life and death situations because, otherwise, they’d obviously say “I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”
Miss Manners, have we learned nothing from you all these years?
The buzzing is caused by an increasingly common gremlin: radio wave interference. In our case it happens when our cellphones get too close to our desk phones, which we’re using to talk to one another.
One day recently, David came to work with tin foil and folded it around his iPhone. Lo and behold, we could talk without David having to scramble to move his iPhone away from the desk phone when the buzzing started.
via Stopping That Dreaded Cellphone Buzz – Gadgetwise Blog – NYTimes.com.
Posted in technology | Tagged: Cell phones, etiquette, Public, Restrooms | Leave a Comment »
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