Archive for August, 2007
NBC cancels iTunes contract
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
Phone-omenon
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 [...]
Summer Calm
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
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!
Shocking Discovery
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. [...]
Forgot where you live?
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 [...]
Paper Battery Anyone?
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
Look out iTunes
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
Throw out your old internet
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
Business Lesson
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 [...]
