Digg CEO Kevin Rose walks through the new version of Digg in a video post. Looks great, but can it make Digg relevant again (hasn’t been relevant for me for the past year and a half).
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Recent Articles
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Mark Zuckerberg Talks (And Swerves Around) Facebook Privacy
Jason Kincaid: When asked about the site’s privacy changes, Zuckerberg wasn’t exactly forthcoming. Many tweets, and the official live coverage of the event, noted that Zuckerberg dodged some questions about privacy, resorting to talk about encouraging serendipity through openness and well-worn anecdotes detailing why sharing is important. Zuckerberg also brought up Facebook’s oft-repeated stat that…
Jason Kincaid:
When asked about the site’s privacy changes, Zuckerberg wasn’t exactly forthcoming. Many tweets, and the official live coverage of the event, noted that Zuckerberg dodged some questions about privacy, resorting to talk about encouraging serendipity through openness and well-worn anecdotes detailing why sharing is important. Zuckerberg also brought up Facebook’s oft-repeated stat that over 50% of users have adjusted their privacy settings, citing it as evidence that users know what they’re doing (this doesn’t convince me in the slightest — that means nearly 250 million people haven’t touched them).
As to be expected.
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New Toshiba Screen Lets You Bend to Zoom in Google Earth
Really cool screen, but I don’t see how the bending of the screen to zoom is all that intuitive…
Really cool screen, but I don’t see how the bending of the screen to zoom is all that intuitive…
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Apple to Save the News Biz?
At the D8 conference Steve Jobs remarked that perhaps the news industry needs an iTunes type model for news. He went on to say that we need news outlets so that we don’t become a “nation of bloggers”. Agreed. The question then is does Jobs mean that we really need an iNews, or was he…
At the D8 conference Steve Jobs remarked that perhaps the news industry needs an iTunes type model for news. He went on to say that we need news outlets so that we don’t become a “nation of bloggers”. Agreed.
The question then is does Jobs mean that we really need an iNews, or was he simply using that to illustrate the point that news is lost and needs a common strategy that they can band around? I of course think that Jobs meant the latter: news outlets need to band together to create a common and standardized system by which they will make money off of their content.
The reasons iTunes works so well for music is because you can get everything at one place for the same price. Just because Ke$ha is more popular right now than Bob Dylan, doesn’t mean her music costs more. Everything in one location for a standardized price. Makes sense. So why hasn’t news done this?
What is stopping the major news outlets from coming together and saying that starting next week we have to pay $5 a month for a subscription to a news site, every news site is now $5/mo and that is that.
I know what is stopping them from doing this: ego.
There is no way that the Wall Street Journal and New York Times are willing to charge their customers the same price that The New York Post charges – no way.
Ego: that is going to be the news industries downfall.
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The Walled Garden (aka The App Store)
Neven Mrgan: Aren’t the benefits of a closed, carefully managed garden clearly visible? The experience is controlled, so it tells a story – one which may not emerge from a democratic, anything-goes process (or do you think this sort of slow and deliberate story would emerge in a busy American city in the year 2010?)…
Neven Mrgan:
Aren’t the benefits of a closed, carefully managed garden clearly visible? The experience is controlled, so it tells a story – one which may not emerge from a democratic, anything-goes process (or do you think this sort of slow and deliberate story would emerge in a busy American city in the year 2010?) Charging for admission means that the place can be maintained, improved, and marketed. There are downsides to this, of course — maybe the management makes boneheaded decisions now and then. Maybe you think that vine maple would look better a little to the left — maybe you’re even right.
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Microsoft Unveils a (Somewhat) Tablet-Friendly Version of Windows
If by somewhat you mean it has another convoluted new name.
If by somewhat you mean it has another convoluted new name.
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Griffey Retires
So long to a legend for Mariners fans and baseball fans across the world.
So long to a legend for Mariners fans and baseball fans across the world.
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Verizon Wireless currently testing Apple iPads
Anyone other than BGR and I would not believe it. This doesn’t surprise me Apple tested intel chips for years before the change was made. This is probably more of a backup right now than anything else. Just my guess though.
Anyone other than BGR and I would not believe it. This doesn’t surprise me Apple tested intel chips for years before the change was made. This is probably more of a backup right now than anything else. Just my guess though.
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Yahoo faces privacy test with new e-mail features
Michael Liedtke: Yahoo Inc. is hoping to turn on a new sharing option in its popular e-mail service without shocking users who prize their privacy. That’s why the Internet company is advising its 280 million e-mail accountholders to review their privacy settings along with their incoming messages. Yahoo posted the privacy reminder this week as…
Michael Liedtke:
Yahoo Inc. is hoping to turn on a new sharing option in its popular e-mail service without shocking users who prize their privacy.
That’s why the Internet company is advising its 280 million e-mail accountholders to review their privacy settings along with their incoming messages.
Yahoo posted the privacy reminder this week as it prepares to unveil new features that will share its e-mail users’ online activities and interests with people listed in their address books unless they take steps to prevent the information from being broadcast. The new sharing tools will be appearing in people’s e-mail accounts this month.
This is not the right thing to do. You should allow people to opt in always, not make them have to opt out.
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Microsoft Responds to Google Dumping Windows: Our OS Is Secure
Stan Schroeder: “When it comes to security, even hackers admit we’re doing a better job making our products more secure than anyone else. And it’s not just the hackers; third party influentials and industry leaders like Cisco tell us regularly that our focus and investment continues to surpass others,” Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc says in a…
Stan Schroeder:
“When it comes to security, even hackers admit we’re doing a better job making our products more secure than anyone else. And it’s not just the hackers; third party influentials and industry leaders like Cisco tell us regularly that our focus and investment continues to surpass others,” Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc says in a blog post.
He also lists some facts to support his claim, citing several security improvements in Windows 7, like Parental Controls, Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), BitLocker disc encryption and an enhanced Windows Firewall. Furthermore, Microsoft ships software and security updates “as soon as possible through Windows Update and Microsoft Update to keep our customers safe,” he says.
Two problems:
- Most are still using XP so it doesn’t matter how secure Win 7 is.
- Doing better and being secure are two entirely different things.
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Disney Puts Movie Tickets on a Facebook Site – NYTimes.com
Brooks Barnes: The Walt Disney Company has created what it believes is a first-of-its-kind application allowing Facebook users to buy tickets to “Toy Story 3” without leaving the social networking site and while, at the same time, prodding their friends to come along. The application, called Disney Tickets Together, could transform how Hollywood sells movie…
Brooks Barnes:
The Walt Disney Company has created what it believes is a first-of-its-kind application allowing Facebook users to buy tickets to “Toy Story 3” without leaving the social networking site and while, at the same time, prodding their friends to come along.
The application, called Disney Tickets Together, could transform how Hollywood sells movie tickets by combining purchases with the powerful forces of social networking. When you buy a ticket through Disney’s application, for instance, it alerts your Facebook friends and prompts you to invite them to buy tickets of their own.
This is going to catch on.
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Amazon.com Said to Introduce Thinner Kindle in August
Peter Burrows and Joseph Galante: The new version will have sharper contrast that makes e-books look more like real books, the people familiar with the product said. The delay during page turns also will be shortened.
Peter Burrows and Joseph Galante:
The new version will have sharper contrast that makes e-books look more like real books, the people familiar with the product said. The delay during page turns also will be shortened.
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Apple Rumored to Begin Paying Foxconn Employees More
Laura June: Chinese website Zol — which is owned by CBS Interactive — is reporting that Apple may be moving toward a model of paying Foxconn employees direct subsidies, in the form of small percentages of the profits from whatever product line they work on. Interesting, and this would be really great if Apple started…
Laura June:
Chinese website Zol — which is owned by CBS Interactive — is reporting that Apple may be moving toward a model of paying Foxconn employees direct subsidies, in the form of small percentages of the profits from whatever product line they work on.
Interesting, and this would be really great if Apple started doing this. However I am guessing Apple will not be writing the check directly, FoxConn will still do that (for accounting and legal reasons).
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Borders Adds $120 E-Reader to Its Shelves
Christina Warren: While the Libre Pro isn’t the flashiest e-reader on the market — it uses an LCD screen rather than eInk, for instance — it is one of the cheapest. It also builds into Borders’s overall strategy of offering a variety of different e-reader options to customers at all price points. Borders says it…
Christina Warren:
While the Libre Pro isn’t the flashiest e-reader on the market — it uses an LCD screen rather than eInk, for instance — it is one of the cheapest. It also builds into Borders’s overall strategy of offering a variety of different e-reader options to customers at all price points. Borders says it plans on offering up to 10 different devices by the end of the year.
There is another name for the Libre Pro, that name is CRAP. It isn’t even e-ink so the screen will look terrible. Save your money. Way to not be left out by selling crap Borders.
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Thoughts on What Steve Jobs Said at D8
As most of you have probably heard Steve Jobs took the stage at the D8 conference with Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, who led the discussion. I thought instead if trying to find the best quote to post I would just give you a run down of what I think and read into what Jobs…
As most of you have probably heard Steve Jobs took the stage at the D8 conference with Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, who led the discussion. I thought instead if trying to find the best quote to post I would just give you a run down of what I think and read into what Jobs was saying. My thoughts are in no particular order, nor do they match up with the order of the discussion.
Apple & AT&T
Steve Jobs stated pretty much what I have been saying all along – no matter what network the iPhone debuted on, that network would have had the same problems. I think most would agree with this.
The interesting part about Jobs’ statements on AT&T was the sense of loyalty that you get from the way he talks about the two companies relationships. AT&T took a huge risk with marketing the iPhone and allowing Apple to design it with no input from AT&T (not industry standard at the time) – it would seem because of this Jobs feels compelled to keep the iPhone AT&T only for as long as it doesn’t hurt the phone. I would say given the sales numbers that we have not hit that point yet.
The AT&T announcing new (very reasonable) data plan pricing and the eventual support of tethering it would see that this is a last ditch effort for AT&T to knock down the price of cellphone bills. However there was an interesting tidbit in the news – AT&T is doing this to try and curb data usage on its network, as 3% of the users account for 40% of total network usage. This is not in line with what I normally agree with, however if it can improve AT&T’s network for everyone while they work to upgrade it, then I am all for it. Jobs eluded to AT&T working on a lot of things, and I believe this is just one such solution they are going to try.
iPad
Three iPad’s sold every second – are you kidding me? Wow.
Jobs confirmed what we all had the sense of when we first touched the iPad – it was the initial thought, but the iPhone was released first. You can really see that once you use one for a while.
Steve believes that the iPad is the future, plain and simple. I agree, it may never do as much as your laptop does right now, but how often do you need anything more. I am a huge technophile and I only need something more 20% of the time right now, add a few more apps to it and that could drop to 2%. The iPad will be an amazing tool when it matures in the next few years, and until then it will grow in popularity and with that acceptance.
Apple & Flash
You knew that this topic would be broached, and indeed it was. What is interesting to note is that as far as I can tell Jobs was being genuine when he said, it was not about Flash as it is about picking future technologies. Jobs likens Flash to Floppy Drives, in other words Apple sees Flash not as a future technology but as an outdated technology. This explains a lot and should show that it is not so much a performance issue with Flash, Apple just doesn’t want to support a Floppy Disk on their devices. Those of you holding your breath for Flash on the iPhone OS platform, you should breath now, because you will die before it happens.
Jobs on Google
It was inevitable that Mossberg & Swisher would ask Jobs about Google and their relationship with the company. I am going to take Jobs’ statements on the matter to be honest, he has never shown a pension for being anything but honest. Jobs made it very clear that Google stepped into Apple’s territory and not the other way around. He also made it very clear that they are not going into search and that they will continue to provide Google products so long as they are the best option for its customers.
Jobs would not touch on his personal relationship with Schmidt and Google, nor should he have to. I got the distinct impression from the way Jobs was talking that Apple is not out to defend itself or try to bury Google – Apple and Jobs just want to make cool stuff that consumers will buy. This is where Microsoft is going wrong (and thus far Google is as well) – both companies are focused on killing the competition and trying to win, when they need to be focused on making stuff their customers want to use.
So to recap:
Microsoft wants to dominate with Windows Mobile 7 Phone.
Google wants to dominate everything with Android.
Apple wants to make products that people want to use.Who do you think will win long term? I am not saying Apple will win, but they are on the best path.
On Gizmodo
Nothing new here, he was very brief about the matter as he reiterated the facts that we all know already. Not much more could be said without legal counsel present. However he did say that he could not let it slide, and as I speculated when this all went down – this is about setting an example, not about legalities of stuff. Bummer for Gizmodo, but they had it coming on this one.
On Publishing
Jobs made a very important point when he said (according to the WSJ coverage):
Jobs adds that he believes people are willing to pay for content and that content providers are not pricing their offerings as aggressively as they should.
I don’t think there are many that can disagree with that. I would love to pay for content, but the content has to be good, ad free and priced at a reasonable rate. The Wall Street Journal does none of this, nor does anyone else. Time to pull your heads out of your asses publishing industry.
On App Store Rejections
Apple approves 95% of apps within seven days. Incredible. There will always be the vocal minority when it comes to app rejections, but most of the time Apple has a strong basis for their rejections. When Apple doesn’t they usually analyze it and change their policy to suit. Short of removing all policies and letting all apps through I don’t know what more Apple could do here.
I applaud Apple and Jobs for acknowledging when they are wrong and defending themselves when they think they are right. You can’t ask for more these days, and rarely do you get such candor from a company. (Imagine Microsoft publishing an open letter on Flash?)
Questions Not Asked I Would Have Liked to See Asked:
- What are your thoughts on the Wired App created with new Adobe technologies?
- Is the future in video conferencing or text communication, or do you think it will remain audio only?
- What is your primary computer? (because who doesn’t want to know that)
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AT&T Caps Phone Data Usage With New Wireless Plans | Seattle Times Newspaper
Peter Svensson: One new plan will cost $25 per month and offer 2 gigabytes of data per month, which AT&T says will be enough for 98 percent of its smart phone customers. Additional gigabytes will cost $10 each. A second plan will cost $15 per month for 200 megabytes of data, which AT&T says is…
Peter Svensson:
One new plan will cost $25 per month and offer 2 gigabytes of data per month, which AT&T says will be enough for 98 percent of its smart phone customers. Additional gigabytes will cost $10 each.
A second plan will cost $15 per month for 200 megabytes of data, which AT&T says is enough for 65 percent of its smart phone customers. If they go over, they’ll pay another $15 for 200 megabytes.
This is great for most people but only 2gb for tethering? That seems like weak sauce.
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Apple CEO Steve Jobs Live from D8
Cool, but I can’t stand Kara Swisher.
Cool, but I can’t stand Kara Swisher.
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Pot, kettle, black? Microsoft voices concerns over Google
Hahaha, Microsoft and Google both “tailor” results. That’s why you don’t look for bad things about each on their search engines. But Google clearly has a monopoly, whether it is engaging in anti-competitive practices is the real question.
Hahaha, Microsoft and Google both “tailor” results. That’s why you don’t look for bad things about each on their search engines. But Google clearly has a monopoly, whether it is engaging in anti-competitive practices is the real question.
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App Turns iPhone Into Tethered Webcam (Warning: Windows Only)
Eli Milchman: On the increasingly small off chance your computer doesn’t have it’s own webcam (or you’ve blowtorched it because those aliens from Tau Ceti II were spying on you), German developer Drahtwerk has a clever solution: an app that lets you turn your iPhone into a wifi-tethered webcam. iWebcamera ($5) includes a pause-mode, two…
Eli Milchman:
On the increasingly small off chance your computer doesn’t have it’s own webcam (or you’ve blowtorched it because those aliens from Tau Ceti II were spying on you), German developer Drahtwerk has a clever solution: an app that lets you turn your iPhone into a wifi-tethered webcam.
iWebcamera ($5) includes a pause-mode, two quality options and a “send drivers by e-mail feature,” which is apparently some BS that Windows users need to deal with.
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Apple Didn’t Beat Microsoft, Robbie Bach Did: Apple’s Secret 5th Column
Rob Enderle: However, I also agree with much of what Geoffrey James says in “Top 10 Reasons Apple Beat Microsoft” — essentially, that Apple’s relative success really has more to do with decisions made at Microsoft than decisions made at Apple. Nope, not even close. Also Enderle and Thurrott are in the same boat of…
Rob Enderle:
However, I also agree with much of what Geoffrey James says in “Top 10 Reasons Apple Beat Microsoft” — essentially, that Apple’s relative success really has more to do with decisions made at Microsoft than decisions made at Apple.
Nope, not even close. Also Enderle and Thurrott are in the same boat of stupidity – but that is just my opinion.