NBC has decided to withdraw its content from the iTunes store as of this December. The decision reportedly comes about as a result of Apple refusing to enforce stricter DRM on the media content and also flexible pricing options. Nice to see Apple sticking to their guns here. Although the iTunes store will lose hit TV show content such as The Office and Heroes I’m sure that end-users won’t be crying too much over this. History has shown that there’s always another way to get content such as this onto your iPod/home computer. source: Slashdot

Do I love technology? Yes. Would others refer to me as a techie? Yes. Would I call myself a nerd? Yes. Do I understand the current buzz around hi-end mobile phones? No!

I have been vocal in the past regarding aspects of modern technology that I see no real advantage or beneficial use for other than ridding your wallet of excess ballast. My opinions on the iPhone are well known to anyone that I have spoken to since it’s tech spec announcement. However, I am surrounded by fellow techies who are embracing this temporal shift in communication technology. Paul and Brian are big iPhone aficionados and I remember them looking a little puzzled when I expressed my views on Apple’s latest release.

Today I see that Bernie is still enjoying his N95 and advocating its built-in GPS features. The media of the past month is full of iPhone and Nokia reviews, publicity and scandal. In fact I think if I checked my feed reader for the blogs I follow I would be hard pressed not to find some positive mention of some new phone release. So, why is the whole world gone phone mad? Have people found the holy grail of being able to walk while not looking where they are going or have they just found the elusive time to stand still that they claim they don’t have and as such require new mobile devices?

Okay I hear the grumblings already: we could be on a train or a passenger in a car or some other form of transport. Sure but if you’re in one of these things GPS is probably not a concern of yours, the photos that you put on the device are already fresh in your mind. If a friend is driving, you shouldn’t be distracting them with visual captures of your life. In fact, I would guess that 90% of the time, that little mobile unit is buried safely in the coin and key infested regions of your pocket and that’s why the phone case and screen protector market exists. Sure GPS, touch screens, new UI design and all these other things are cool but I really don’t see the need for them in a phone, touch screen perhaps at a push but anything else is just a little too much for the mobile user who doesn’t have a mobile power plant. Yes, I was the person who said separates and not midisystem, the one that said that computer engine management for cars would be the end of mechanics and a whole host of other horrible visions of the future. However, do you know what? Most modern cars can’t be fixed easily without plugging into their OBD2 ports. Most music enthusiasts pay mega-bucks for separate hi-fi components because all-in-one just doesn’t cut it. We’re all leaning toward cheap and cheerful gadgets that last the momentary unit of enjoyment or pride. Lots of people have Nokia phones, remember when voice dialling was included? Remember playing around with it? Remember discovering you could only include a certain number of voice keys for your phonebook and never using the feature other than to show friends?

Without being too dismissive of all this newfangled technology, I will concede that some integration is good. I do enjoy having a high quality camera in my phone for the one shot in every 3 months that I use it to capture something I wasn’t expecting or didn’t set out to find. As for everything else, I just don’t get it. Perhaps some of you can try to convince me with something I’m missing? I still enjoy technology, I just bought a Wii , but mobile be-all and end-alls, please explain…

Feeding Tortoise Shell

Originally uploaded by jbwan.

Daisy, Daisy

Originally uploaded by jbwan.

The more I say the angrier I get so here’s a couple of nice calming photos from my garden yesterday evening.

Paradise

Originally uploaded by jbwan.

Paradise indeed but it’s also only 45 mins drive and about 30 mins walk to get there from Waterford City. I love capturing sights like this in my home county – you don’t need to go far to see the wonderful world around you!

New research carried out shows how impulsive people are when a threat is within their sights. Researchers asked volunteers to play a basic video game like Pacman whereby the predator, a red dot, would chase their character about the screen. If the predator captured the player’s character then they received an electric shock. Analysis of the brain activity during game play showed an increased flow of blood to the middle of the brain when the attacker was close to the player’s character. The mid-brain activity is normally associated with reflex type activity rather than strategy and planning. The opposite to this is the pre-frontal cortex that controls rational thought and coordination. So in order to be better at video games you need to start exercising your pre-frontal cortex so that you can have the confidence to cope with more threats! source: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature

Not many people forget where they live, even after a week away from home most folk can find their way back. So where’s this going? Well like most people into a bit of technology I too have splashed out on a GPS for my car but one thing that I wouldn’t do is put my home location as a marker in the favourites. Why? Well to me the answer is obvious enough: If a thief steals your car somewhere that isn’t your home there’s a damn good chance that you won’t be home while he’s driving your car from location B. So what better way to continue the crime spree than to continue to the home of the car owner and possibly use the house keys left in the car to make yourself a cup of tea? Yes, it’s dangerous enough when you think about it. Here’s the tale of one such unlucky person. source: The Register

With all the talk of dangerous batteries going around in recent times it’s easy to get hyped over a battery related story. Tales of danger and explosions, spontaneous fires and injured parties. This story has nothing to do with that theme of battery propaganda but rather a new development of a paper like battery that is only the size of a postage stamp yet can power a small light. Given that the battery has long been an issue for designers of devices such as mobile phones have we finally seen the breakthrough that will give us the wafer thin mobile? source: Reg Hardware

Well maybe not but Universal has just launched a new music purchasing service called Gbox. Interesting name? The service currently only available in the US will most interestingly allow punters to avail of DRM free music – the one thing that everyone has been crying out for, for so long. Universal have teamed up with Google for this venture and Google will take ad revenues from the service rather than a cut of the sales. Time will tell but it’s hard to see iTunes losing market share given tht most punters don’t have more than five different devices to play their music on. source: BBC NEWS

Those researchers in Japan really should push the boat out more. In their latest drive they aim to achieve the simple task of replacing the internet? Should be a few hours downtime then? source: Slashdot

Everything in the professional world is a reflection of something in nature. In all walks of life there are quiet types, bullies and opportunists. This video shot in Kruger wildlife reserve in South Africa shows it all in action. A herd of buffalo are attacked by a pride of lions and a baby buffalo is captured by the water’s edge. While at the water’s edge the opportunist crocodiles try to snatch the catch from the lions, the lions eventually win out and drag the buffalo back to dry land only to be confronted by the entire buffalo herd who ain’t too happy about junior being attacked. The moral of the story would appear to be that bullies (the lions) might think they have the upper hand with speed and strength and reputation, the opportunists (the crocs) rarely ever win out but make a big splash over nothing but in the end if you mess with a family (the buffalo) you better expect to lose out. Tip of the hat to Damien Mulley’s fluffy links for the video.