Remember when you were young and by young, I mean you grew up in the late 80′s or early 90′s and remember the video game “Rampage.” If you do, get ready to love life again – if you don’t, here is what you missed out on: the game centered around “King Kong” like monsters that destroyed buildings and ate people - that’s it.
When you talk to people about online privacy – most of the time, they fall into three different camps: 1) the “I don’t really care – I have nothing to hide” – 2) the “Oh really, I didn’t know” – 3) and the “I know, I use a vpn, proxy servers and privacy mode on Firefox.” My main concern is the people that fall into the 2nd group because, like most anything, if you don’t know….you usually don’t care.
Online Privacy: The term is very broad and includes issues concerning your private personal information, browser history, surfing habits, purchases, digital footprint and much much more. Now, if someone was to ask you for your personal information (full name, age,sex,address,etc) in real life (in person), you might not be so inclined to just hand it over – but what if it’s being taken online, without your direct knowledge? Would this bother you?
Anonymous goes grass-roots on the RIAA & MPAA for their role with recent legislation (SOPA and PIPA) – vows to bring the house down on them for the whole month of March. Not only are they asking for people to join in on a non-buying day (march 1st) to hurt music and movie studios, in terms of profits/stock but they are also planning large DDoS attacks for the whole month. When you mess with the bull, you get the horns:
“We will not tolerate the Media Industries’ lobbying for legistation which will censor the internet.” Regarding Black March: If you want to do something that makes a statement, consider shifting your money not only away from corporate media but to independent media. Buy comics published by someone other than DC and Marvel. Buy books from small and independent presses. Support independent production companies who fight to stay independent and fan-focused. Better yet, buy things directly from creators and artisans. Support independent retailers. Don’t just blanket punish media producers and distributors—refocus those resources into supporting the ones who espouse and depend on free exchange of information and ideas. Because those are the people preserving intellectual freedom. Those are the people creating work of substance. And those are the people struggling to make a living, because they aren’t bankrolled by the Corporate Elite lobbying for SOPA and PIPA.
The new music video from OK Go, made in partnership with Chevrolet. OK Go set up over 1000 instruments over two miles of desert outside Los Angeles. A Chevy Sonic was outfitted with retractable pneumatic arms designed to play the instruments, and the band recorded this version of Needing/Getting, singing as they played the instrument array with the car. The video took 4 months of preparation and 4 days of shooting and recording. There are no ringers or stand-ins; Damian took stunt driving lessons. Each piano had the lowest octaves tuned to the same note so that they’d play the right note no matter where they were struck. For more information and behind-the-scenes footage, see http://www.LetsDoThis.com and http://www.okgo.net. Many thanks to Chevy for believing in and supporting such an insane and ambitious project, and to Gretsch for providing the guitars.
Welcome to Visualizer from MSN. We hope you enjoy this new way of experiencing music and images. Simply select a song and our Visualizer app will browse Flickr for a relevant photo to match with the song lyric. This month we’ve teamed up with UK record label Ninja Tune for a great selection of tunes from the likes of Pop Levi, Bonobo and Hexstatic.
By selecting ‘Write’ you’ll also be able to submit your own lyrics, poems or random thoughts to an instrumental track and share with friends. Give it a whirl now!
As with any new feature or product we trial on MSN, we’d welcome your feedback and suggestions. Ping us an email (msn.music@hotmail.co.uk) and let us know what you think.
Check it out for yourselves – This reminds me of Microsoft’s iPhone/Android App – PhotoSynth and Cool Iris by LiveShare . These are the type of consumer projects Redmond needs to work on.
Looks like our favorite video sharing site is in the midst of a massive makeover and from the looks of it, things are looking good. While YourTube’s latest update brought a more minimal approach to the site, it’s still horribly convoluted and while the sharing aspect of it works well, the commenting system is a nightmare (racism,trolling,stupidity,etc). Vimeo, from our first look, seems to have adopted an ultra clean, very modern look (very Apple), with simplicity being the driving force behind the update.
Brand New Browsing Page: Vimeo has moved into a more cinematic look for it’s main browser page, adding a wider (full width) media player, universally known icons for controls and keyboard shortcuts.
Better Browsing: The new video browser will remain completely hidden and out of the way until the viewer wants to access it:
….To access it, click the “More Videos” flag in the upper right corner of any video page, or use the keyboard shortcut “M.” The video browser also provides more ways to discover things you like. Jump to your feed (see below), recently watched videos, watch later list, and more, all from one convenient spot…
Additional changes come to Vimeo’s Upload and Search features, which have needed an overhaul for some time.
Better Uploading: Uploading multiple files has become drop dead simple and Vimeo has added dynamic file detection to eliminate those pesky media format issue – also live thumbnail preview is available.
Advanced Search: Search is a driving force on the web, just ask Google, so Vimeo has added advanced search options:
…We’ve seen a huge increase in people using search to find interesting stuff on Vimeo, so we’ve added ways to get better results. Just click Show Advanced Filters on any search results page, and whether you’re hot on the trail of videos, people, Channels, or something in the forums, we can help you find what you’re looking for….
Vimeo is the midst of a massive update and not only is it a long time coming but it looks like they have some amazing designers working in house. Navigation, services, content and interaction often times isn’t as native as it should be on the web - it’s good to see a company step up and make it’s already breakthrough services even better. Check out all the updates for yourself….
Source: Vimeo
Yahoo! is free of Jerry Yang or is Jerry Yang free of the albatros that has been Yahoo? Regardless, co-founder Jerry Yang has resigned his board position and all responsibilities he has with the company – this does not include stock owned by Yang.
My time at Yahoo!, from its founding to the present, has encompassed some of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life. However, the time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo! As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as Chief Executive Officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo! leadership team, to guide Yahoo! into an exciting and successful future…
The move is effective immediately and mere days after Scott Thomson took over the C.E.O. position at Yahoo – so what is left for the former “web portal”? While the situation is still developing, talk has involved an overall sale of yahoo to the dumping of Yahoo’s Asian properties, like Yahoo Japan and Alibaba Group. Whatever the future holds for Yahoo, it stands as an example of an internet pioneer that didn’t evolve with the overall course of the net and also didn’t have an understanding of what kind of company it had become.
Source: Yahoo
Source: TheVerge – Image Source: SFExaminer
DO YOUR PART! The internet is under attack – the open and free internet that we’ve all grown-up with, is now the target of powerful lobbyists and ignorant/bought government officials. This is no conspiracy theory – this isn’t fiction: This is a very real : very serious problem facing everyone. There are two bills of Legislation in Washington right now: SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act). Both bills were written by lobbyists and sold to congressmen/senators, whom know very little about the ramifications of these bills.
SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act):
The originally proposed bill would allow the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as copyright holders, to seek court orders against websites accused of enabling or facilitating copyright infringement. Depending on who makes the request, the court order could include barring online advertising networks and payment facilitators from doing business with the allegedly infringing website, barring search engines from linking to such sites, and requiring Internet service providers to block access to such sites. The bill would make unauthorized streaming of copyrighted content a crime, with a maximum penalty of five years in prison for ten such infringements within six months. The bill also gives immunity to Internet services that voluntarily take action against websites dedicated to infringement, while making liable for damages any copyright holder who knowingly misrepresents that a website is dedicated to infringement.[4] - Read More…..
PIPA (Protect IP Act):
The bill defines infringement as distribution of illegal copies, counterfeit goods, or anti-digital rights management technology. Infringement exists if “facts or circumstances suggest [the site] is used, primarily as a means for engaging in, enabling, or facilitating the activities described.”[8] The bill says that it does not alter existing substantive trademark or copyright law.[9]
The bill provides for “enhancing enforcement against rogue websites operated and registered overseas” and authorizes the United States Department of Justice to seek a court order in rem against websites dedicated to infringing activities, if through due diligence, an individual owner or operator cannot be located.[10] The bill requires the Attorney General to serve notice to the defendant.[11] Once the court issues an order, it could be served on financial transaction providers, Internet advertising services, Internet service providers, and information location tools to require them to stop financial transactions with the rogue site and remove links to it.[12] The term “information location tool” is borrowed from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and is understood to refer to search engines but could cover other sites that link to content…. - Read More…….
Hidden inside both pieces of legislation are powerful clauses, wording that will strip civil liberties, freedom of speech, safe harbor protections, business/online commerce and the physical back-bone of the internet – DNS. Action needs to be taken to stop these bills from become laws and everyone needs to participate, this will effect everyone. In a cohesive stance against SOPA & PIPA, hundreds of major companies from all over the world have decided to strike: Google, Yahoo!, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, AOL, LinkedIn, eBay, Mozilla Corporation, Roblox, Reddit, the Wikimedia Foundation and human rights organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the ACLU, and Human Rights Watch. For more information regarding the issues, please visit the SopaStrike website here and please pass the word about this very important issue. January 18th, 2012 has been declared a global WEB STRIKE DAY – Join In.
Source: SopaStrike
Source: CargoCollective
While the United States got a taste of iTunes Match earlier this year, it looks like Apple is rolling the service out to the rest of the globe as we speak. If you’ve never heard of iTunes Match, here’s the low down:
iTunes determines which songs in your collection are available in the iTunes Store. Any music with a match is automatically added to iCloud. Since there are more than 20 million songs in the iTunes Store, most of your music is probably already in iCloud. All you have to upload is what iTunes can’t match. Which is much faster than starting from scratch. Once your music is in iCloud, you can stream and store it on any of your devices. Even better, all the music iTunes matches plays back from iCloud at 256-Kbps AAC DRM-free quality — even if your original copy was of lower quality…
For those that want an easier explanation: It allows you to make all the songs you download illegally – legal for $25/Yr (no questions asked) and then access those songs in the cloud, on your iOS devices. Seems to good to be true….
Source: 9To5 Mac
Seems like lobbyists haven’t got the message yet, so they released this gem of propaganda. The ad is solely based on made up information, drumming up fear from un-informed citizens about the “evils” of the internet. When will special interest groups realize that a free internet is now a civil right – one that grants people information, free speech and the ability to converse and protest. Good luck taking that away!
Facebook has released its new “TimeLine” feature to the world! Timeline is a new way of displaying your information and a new way for people to get to know you – more image based. Structured chronologically and somewhat organized by you, Timeline lets people see your whole Facebook life – from start to finish. Keep in mind, that with all things Facebook, privacy is a main concern – so make sure you understand what your signing up for. Also, take advantage of the 7 day trial period and really look over the info that will eventually go public. Want to activate your “Timeline” – click here.
Source: Facebook
Mashable has put together a cool little history of western typefaces…..of course it’s in the form of an infograph but you can’t have everything. Unlike most history lessons, Mashable’s gem is peppered with interesting tidbits like: “You see approximately 490,000 words every day — and that’s just on the web. If the designers behind those websites are any good, they put a lot of thought into the typefaces they use on each page…” Worth a look.
Source: Mashable
Speaking at LeWeb 2011 in Paris, France – Eric Schmidt dropped somewhat of a bombshell: “By the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions you see in stores will have Google TV embedded.” Now, no other details where released, so we don’t know if he was speaking about the actual TV set’s UI or if Google TV will be a featured app, as Netflix and Vudu are currently on many smart TVs. Is Google nurturing its mobile ties to the likes of Samsung, Sony and LG, maturing their relationship beyond the mobile space? Samsung, Sony and LG own 46%+ of the global TV market, so Google would have to get them on board along with other vendors like Panasonic. Add that info to deafening rumors about Apple’s own “Smart” TV in 2012, with Siri powering the UI and control. Looks like the TV space is heating up again!
Source: TheVerge
Amid the complete meltdown Netflix has gone through over the last 3-4 months, some bright spots are starting to emerge….as they continue doing what “Old Netflix” was doing, before it got multiple personality disorder – expand. Today, Netflix announced the addition of MGM content for their upcoming expansion into the UK market but what makes this news especially interesting is the effect this partnership will have on domestic Netflix rival – LoveFilms. Essentially, Netflix & MGM have signed an exclusivity agreement – allowing only Netflix the right to show new MGM movies within a year of their theatrical release. These are the kind of hardline deals Netflix needs to sign in order to break into the LOVEFiLM ruled British market. Welcome back Netflix, we missed the old and better you.
Source: Netflix
There is no privacy with smart-phones - regardless of brand or OEM. Understand this!
Source: Allthingsd.com
These are the people running our country – below is a Video of the same individual, just a month earlier. Go to the 48th second of the video if you can’t wait.
What’ll $320 Million get you these days? How about an archaic, old tech, brick and mortar retail chain put up for auction, with Butterfinger colors. That’s right, Dish Network has won (if you can say that) the bidding war for Blockbuster, the bankrupt video chain that went up for auction this last Monday. Dish obviously wants to make a run at Netflix and the Blockbuster deal will help it expand its physical, as well as its streaming services but in my opinion, this was a huge waste of cash/stock. Gaining 1,700 physical locations, that will be turned into some sort of Dish Network chain stores sounds about as appealing as a turd sandwich. Good luck with that one Dish. The deal still has to pass federal approval but chances are, the government will feel sorry for Blockbuster and let the process go through.
Source: BGR.com
You know what a zettabyte is? Can you comprehend what a zettabyte is…..yea, I failed at that one too. Still, it looks like some people can and by some people, I mean an academic team from UC San Diego, that made it their goal to count yearly global internet traffic. In 1998, the special number they came up with was 9.57 Zettabytes! Hold on, let me go back a little and state that: A zettabyte is equal to 1 billion terabytes or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes = 10007 = 1021
That was 1998 and…well…..we’re now living in 2011….at least some of us are – so the number is going to be much much higher. In fact, the number was higher in 1998, as private servers, run by giant internet companies were not counted. I’m still waiting for my Seagate Zettabyte FireWire drive! Wanna check out the findings yourself, click here for the PDF.
Source: Engadget.com
Source: Designyoutrust.com
Find yourself complaining about your camera’s megapixel deficiency? Well, skip over this story, as it will make you crap your pants!
The Place: Czech Republic - specifically the reading room of the super old and private Strahov monastery.
The Culprit: Jeffrey Martin and his bionic robotic GigaPanBot: “The GigaPanBot is an automatic rotating pan and tilt head designed to rotate and trigger a digital DSLR camera. It can be used in combination with fish eye lenses to shoot fast 360° panoramas or with tele lenses up to 600mm to shoot multi-row…”
The Outcome: A massive 40 GigaPixel – 360 Degree – 283 GB Panoramic Digital Image! Yea, I said 283 GB image! The finished images was stitched together from about 2,947 separate shots, taking a computer a little over 4 days to complete. Sweet jesus! Now that a new record is set, some one better start daisy-chaining those GigaPanBot cameras together, for a single 360 degree shot of New York…..from the Empire State Building. Just Looked over at my Canon T2i……it just shed a tear…..
Source: Wired.com