When you have a spare 44:31.
Get the podcast.
Sooooo very worth learning about The Fishstick.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Kotaku - N.O.V.A. Micro-Review: Say "Halo" to iPhone's New Shooter
New TSA rule: Everybody goes naked on airline flights | ITworld
Just kidding. There's no such rule. Too bad, because that makes more
sense than the new ban on Wi-Fi.
December 28, 2009, 02:51 PM —
sense than the new ban on Wi-Fi.
December 28, 2009, 02:51 PM —
http://www.itworld.com/mobile-amp-wireless/90655/new-tsa-rule-everybody-goes-naked-airline-flights
Ex-Seagate employee claims the company stole MIT research, tried to cover up its tracks
"Ex-Seagate employee claims the company stole MIT research, tried to cover up its tracks" - www.engadget.com http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/29/ex-seagate-employee-claims-the-company-stole-mit-research-tried/?icid=engadget-iphone-url 
Sure, this ain't the first time that Seagate's allegedly run afoul of the law, but this tale will definitely have you breathlessly demanding more (you know, if patent infringement is exciting to you -- which would actually be pretty weird). Way back in July 2000, Convolve (an M.I.T. spin-off formed to market the school's hard drive noise reduction research) sued Seagate for using patented tech in its Sound Barrier Technology -- with the end result being that Seagate drives no longer support automatic acoustic management. But that isn't the exciting part. In a dramatic turn reported by The New York Times, a former Seagate employee named Paul A. Galloway has apparently provided "an eyewitness account" of what went down, including the theft of info obtained in a meeting between the two companies held in 1998 and 1999 and the destruction of blueprints relating to Convolve's technology. As for the whistleblower, he claims that he was kept in the dark about the nature of the research he was working on, with Seagate even going so far as to take his computer with notes pertinent to the trial. All of this (and more) are detailed in an affidavit that is available (in PDF form) by hitting that source link -- and, man, is it a page-turner!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
iPhone Games 2009: A Retro Gamer's Heaven
iPhone Games 2009: A Retro Gamer's Heaven
One of the most surprising things about the App Store is just how big a draw it has been for us old timey gamers like Blake and myself. Being in our mid 30's, we remember the days when processor megahertz were measured in the single digits and having most of these games on your home computer would have been amazing, much less on your a mobile ...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Twitter Is Already Profitable!
Twitter Is Already Profitable!
Beyond talking about how fast it was growing, one of the hottest topics surrounding Twitter in 2009 was "how does it make money?" Perhaps that was the wrong question to be asking, though, because as it turns out, Twitter already makes money. ...
Free Codes: MyChristmas
Free Codes: MyChristmas
I reviewed this app last Christmas and it's pretty good if you're looking for some iPhone-ized holiday cheer.
iTunes Link: MyChristmas
On deck: Recipes 4 us – Student Edition (Lifestyle) ...
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS: SYSTEM SUPPORT VERSION
Twas the night before crisis, and all through the house,
not a program was working, not even a browse.
The programmers were wrung out, too mindless to care,
knowing chances of cutover hadn't a prayer.
The users were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of inquiries danced in their heads.
When out in the lobby there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my cube to see what was the matter!
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a super programmer, oblivious to fear.
More rapid than eagles, his programs they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
'On update! On add! On inquiry! On delete!
On batch jobs! On closing! On functions complete!'
His eyes were glazed over, his fingers were lean
from weekends and nights in front of the screen.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
turning specs into code, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger on the 'ENTER' key,
The system came up and worked perfectly!
The updates updated, the deletes they deleted,
the inquiries inquired, and the closing completed.
He tested each whistle, and tested each bell
with nary an abend, and all had gone well.
The system was finished, the tests were concluded.
The client's last changes were even included!!
And the client exclaimed with a snarl, and a taunt,
'It's just what I asked for, but it's not what I want!'
not a program was working, not even a browse.
The programmers were wrung out, too mindless to care,
knowing chances of cutover hadn't a prayer.
The users were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of inquiries danced in their heads.
When out in the lobby there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my cube to see what was the matter!
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a super programmer, oblivious to fear.
More rapid than eagles, his programs they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
'On update! On add! On inquiry! On delete!
On batch jobs! On closing! On functions complete!'
His eyes were glazed over, his fingers were lean
from weekends and nights in front of the screen.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
turning specs into code, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger on the 'ENTER' key,
The system came up and worked perfectly!
The updates updated, the deletes they deleted,
the inquiries inquired, and the closing completed.
He tested each whistle, and tested each bell
with nary an abend, and all had gone well.
The system was finished, the tests were concluded.
The client's last changes were even included!!
And the client exclaimed with a snarl, and a taunt,
'It's just what I asked for, but it's not what I want!'
The Essential iPhone App Collection For The New Media Professional
The Essential iPhone App Collection For The New Media Professional
This message was shared via my6sense
iPhone apps all all the rage, but which are the best iPhone apps for the New Media Professional?
Here is a fairly comprehensive list of great iPhone apps (broken down into categories and then alphabetized). Please note that all of these apps are free (unless marked otherwise). I also asked my Twitter community which apps they use, and it came back with the "usual suspects" (with some discrepancies when it comes to Twitter on the ...
This message was shared via my6sense
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Jim Campbell, Maine Republican, Leaves Party Over 'Failure To Address' Health Care
"I have been very frustrated with the Republican Party in Maine, and nationally, for their failure to address the health care crisis in a meaningful way," Campbell said.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Lieberman: Liberal Enthusiasm Convinced Me
Joe,
You are a dirty slimy money grubbing scumbag. When did you sell your
soul to the insurance companies?
You are a dirty slimy money grubbing scumbag. When did you sell your
soul to the insurance companies?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/15/lieberman-liberal-enthusi_n_392887.html
Monday, December 14, 2009
WordPress Makes Blogging On The Fly Easier, Integrates With Twitter API
WordPress Makes Blogging On The Fly Easier, Integrates With Twitter API
This morning, a blogging platform and a microblogging platform have become more symbiotic. WordPress has enabled posting and reading the blogs the platform powers via the Twitter API. ...
The Google Nexus One Phone, In Pictures [Nexus One]
The Google Nexus One Phone, In Pictures [Nexus One]
Two big photos of the phone of the moment, the Google Nexus One, are displayed here for your ogling pleasure.
If you haven't already, be sure to check out why this phone means everything has changed as a result of this upcoming phone. [BGR, ...
Saturday, December 12, 2009
HandBrake goes 64-bit, adds many improvements
HandBrake goes 64-bit, adds many improvements
Friday, November 27, 10:00 AM
Original ArticleNEWS SUMMARY:
After a year without any updates, the developers responsible for the popular video transcoder Handbrake have released version 0.9.4 of the open-source software. With such a small change in the version number, it would be easy to assume that there isn't much new in this version, but that assumption couldn't be further from the truth. In total, there have been over 1,000 changes since 0.9.3 and, while they might not all be life-changing, many of them make for a better user experience.
First, and perhaps most importantly, the new version incorporates improved code from the x264 project that, according to the release notes, makes for speedier encoding, smaller files sizes, and better picture quality. Additionally, 0.9.4 brings 64-bit support, which also provides 10 percent faster encodes. Ten percent may not seem like much, but when you are ripping a huge DVD library, it adds up in a hurry. Users can now include subtitles in their rips, which can be turned on and off (prior to this version, it was all or nothing). Live preview is also a very welcome addition to the software, as it allows a user to find out what their video will look like given specific compression settings.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Oh iTunes. You confuse me...
"It is an application of crazy."
Indeed.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Snaptell for iPhone goes 2.0
Snaptell for iPhone goes 2.0
Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, Freeware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
One of my favorite apps in the early days of the App Store, SnapTell Explorer, has recently updated to version 2.0, and while they've dropped the "Explorer" part and were purchased by Amazon earlier this year, the app still offers the same impressive functionality: take a shot of a book, DVD, or album with the iPhone, and have it pull up ratings, information, and prices on the item in question. Despite the Amazon buyout, it still offers prices from elsewhere, though the Amazon mobile store in the app is the best-looking choice. The app now also lets you share "snaps" (you can email a found item to a friend for, say, a holiday wishlist), and it has a few reporting options for incorrect matches, to make their system even ...
Kayak’s New iPhone App Takes Flight
Kayak's New iPhone App Takes Flight
Discount travel site Kayak has launched a new version of its popular, free iPhone app. The new app, which is already in App Store, includes a trips management tool, an upgraded user interface and faster search. ...
Tablet Wars: Episode V - Dell Strikes Back at CES?
Tablet Wars: Episode V - Dell Strikes Back at CES?
A few days ago in a land a few time zones away, one tablet became another and, just for a moment, stopped everyone speculating about Apple's entry into the decidedly fledgling market segment. According to Pocket-lint Dell is similarly jumping aboard, said to be set to unveil a five-inch tablet running Android, specs that would put it right up in the Archos Internet Tablet's grill and, thankfully, should mean a much lower price-point than the Joojoo. Word is we'll all be getting a glimpse of the thing at CES next month, and knowing Dell it'll probably be a very fleeting one. We're guessing this is the Streak, but would love to be surprised by something entirely ...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Official Google Blog: Relevance meets the real-time web
Google adds twitter to search results
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/relevance-meets-real-time-web.html
fivesecondtest
Simple, instant feedback on your designs.
Five second tests help you easily identify the most prominent elements of your user interfaces.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
From SANS
Pub Sued for Patron's Illegal Downloading on Wi-Fi Hotspot
(November 27, 2009)
In a case believed to be the first of its kind, a UK pub has been fined GBP 8,000 (US $13,000) because someone used its Wi-Fi hotspot to
download copyrighted content. If the UK's Digital Economy Bill goes into effect, similar cases could conceivably be prevented. That bill defines Wi-Fi hotspots as "public communications services," and says that users are responsible for the activity on the connection, not the connection's provider. The bill is proving controversial, as it would require Internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor customers' use of their networks.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39909136,00.htm?tag=mncol;txt
http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/wi-fi-security--home-nets-are-wide-open--pub-gets--8000-fine-2613
http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2254180/pub-fined-customer-uses-wi
(November 27, 2009)
In a case believed to be the first of its kind, a UK pub has been fined GBP 8,000 (US $13,000) because someone used its Wi-Fi hotspot to
download copyrighted content. If the UK's Digital Economy Bill goes into effect, similar cases could conceivably be prevented. That bill defines Wi-Fi hotspots as "public communications services," and says that users are responsible for the activity on the connection, not the connection's provider. The bill is proving controversial, as it would require Internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor customers' use of their networks.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39909136,00.htm?tag=mncol;txt
http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/wi-fi-security--home-nets-are-wide-open--pub-gets--8000-fine-2613
http://www.v3.co.uk/v3/news/2254180/pub-fined-customer-uses-wi
[Editor's Note (Pescatore): Could you fine the pub if someone used a payphone in the pub (OK, just pretend for a second that payphones still
exist) to make a threatening phone call?
(Schultz): This case is the first of its kind only in that it involves an undefended wireless network. It is not novel from the standpoint that it in effect amounts to another downstream liability case.
(Northcutt): It is neat being at SANS London 2009 and seeing a NewsBites edition with so much UK information. This story about the pub being sued
is really important. It has the potential of drastically limiting the number of open hot spots. Infosec professionals on both sides of the pond in organizations that offer or allow free hotspots should take notice and bring it up with corporate counsel.]
exist) to make a threatening phone call?
(Schultz): This case is the first of its kind only in that it involves an undefended wireless network. It is not novel from the standpoint that it in effect amounts to another downstream liability case.
(Northcutt): It is neat being at SANS London 2009 and seeing a NewsBites edition with so much UK information. This story about the pub being sued
is really important. It has the potential of drastically limiting the number of open hot spots. Infosec professionals on both sides of the pond in organizations that offer or allow free hotspots should take notice and bring it up with corporate counsel.]
Krampus - WTF?
Krampus is a mythical creature who accompanies Saint Nicholas in various regions of the world during the Christmas season. <--That is so odd
